Lhamo — Tibetan opera — is performed in Xining at the Tibetan performing arts venues in the cultural district and occasionally at Kumbum Monastery during festivals. The performances combine stylised song, dance, mask work, and comedy in productions that typically last several hours (sometimes a full day for major pieces). The plots are drawn from Buddhist scripture, Tibetan history, and popular legend.
Visitors who attend without Tibetan language are missing most of the dialogue, but the visual spectacle — the elaborate costumes, the painted masks worn by demon characters, the athletic physical performance of the dancers — is worthwhile in its own right. Kumbum Monastery sometimes hosts lhamo performances during the summer festival period; ask at your guesthouse for the current schedule. Admission when performed at the monastery is often included in the monastery ticket.