Promotional material for drama Five Stars Rise in the East Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Performance & Arts Group

A new performance season will bring shows to various theaters in Beijing to welcome the upcoming May Day holidays. 

The Beijing Performance & Arts Group has planned dance, drama, puppet shows, and other ­performances for the new performance season.  

Inspired by an Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) arm protector unearthed in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the drama Five Stars Rise in the East will be held at Beijing's Poly Theater on May 3-5. 

The brocade armband, a ­Chinese national treasure and one of the greatest archaeology ­discoveries of the 20th century, is embroidered with the phrase "Five stars rise in the east, ­benefiting China." It was discovered in 1995 near the elbow of a corpse in a tomb at the Niya Ruins in Xinjiang. Due to its importance, the armband has been restricted from being exhibited abroad. According to historians, an independent oasis state called Jingjue was once located at Niya, which lies along the ancient Silk Road. After the Beijing leg, the drama will tour to Tianjin Grand Theater on May 30 and 31.  

Based on the viral story of a herd of Asian elephants in Southwest China's Yunnan Province moving northward and then heading home, the puppet show The Elephants Are Coming is set to be staged on May 5 at the China Puppet Art Theater. With a documentary style and life-sized elephant puppet, the play will depict the interesting and touching stories of these 15 elephants in the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve in Yunnan.