Forms of folk dance continued to be practiced in China's countryside, and in the 20th century China's Communist government promoted them as part of a new emphasis on popular art forms. Also during the 20th century, originally Western forms of dance, such as ballroom dance and ballet, were introduced to China. Since 1976 forms of social dance, such as ballroom and disco, have become popular pastimes at all levels of Chinese society.
Chinese theater varies significantly in different regions of the country, with more than 300 types known. Although there have been forms of dramatic entertainment in China since very early times, Chinese theater reached its first height during the Yuan dynasty, when the form of literary drama known as Yuan zaju (Yuan drama) came to the fore. It combines various theatrical forms "including speech, music, acrobatics, dance, mime, and martial arts "to tell stories from Chinese history and folklore. In the 20th century Chinese writers adopted originally Western forms of theater to create the form known as huaju (spoken drama). This form remained restricted to major cities and urban audiences. In recent decades Chinese films have found success with international audiences. China's major cultural institutions are in its largest cities. Beijing is home to China's largest museum, the Palace Museum. Housed in the Forbidden City, the former residence of the imperial family and court, the museum contains part of the vast imperial collection of artworks. Also in Beijing are the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the Museum of Chinese History, the China Art Gallery, and the Museum of Natural History. Beijing's Museum of the Chinese Revolution contains collections relating to modern Chinese history, and the Capital Museum houses historical relics including stoneware, bronzes, and calligraphy.
Shanghai also plays a leading cultural role in China. The city is home to the Shanghai Museum, which contains one of China's most important historic art collections; the Museum of Natural Sciences; and the museum of the Tomb of Lu Xun (Lu Xun was a 20th-century writer).
