Xipi literally means shadow play, referring to the puppet show that originated in Shaanxi province. The tune of Peking opera is extremely similar to that of Han opera, therefore Han opera is widely known as the Mother of Peking opera. Peking opera's two main melodies, Xipi and Erhuang, derived from Han Opera after about 1750. Although it is called Peking opera (Beijing theatre style), its origins are in the southern Anhui and eastern Hubei, which share the same dialect of Xiajiang Mandarin (Lower Yangtze Mandarin). Peking opera is generally regarded as having fully formed by 1845. The combination gradually formed Peking opera's melodies. In 1828, several famous Hubei troupes arrived in Beijing and performed jointly with Anhui troupes. It was originally staged for the court and was only made available to the public later.

It was born when the “Four Great Anhui Troupes” brought Anhui opera, or what is now called Huiju, in 1790 to Beijing, for the eightieth birthday of the Qianlong Emperor on September 25.

Peking opera, also referred to as Pingju or Jingxi in Chinese, is currently the most influential opera in China.

Peking opera mask female