Liaohe Stage

Liaohe Stage

The Liaohe Stage is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The Liaohe Stage is located in Liaohe Village, Beiyu Township, Susong County, Anqing City. Originally built in the 21st year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1542) and renovated in the 22nd year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty (1817), the entire stage is supported by four large square wooden pillars, each with a side length of 40 centimeters. The stage surface is formed by beams and planks spanning 3.5 meters above the tops of the pillars. The central crossbeam on the front bears a gilded plaque inscribed with “大雅元音” (Great Elegant Tones). It covers an area of 32 square meters and has a hip-and-gable roof with a raised-beam structure. The stage was built by the ancestors of the Liao family and was initially called the “Offering and Worship Stage,” primarily used by young members of the clan to perform the “Mulanxi Opera” as offerings to deities and ancestors. Later, it became associated with Huangmei tea-picking opera and turned into a gathering place where artists from three provinces and five counties performed. The stage holds significant value for the study of the origins and development of local operas such as Huangmei Opera and is a key cultural relic protection unit in Anhui Province.

The structure consists of two stages at the front and back, spanning two levels, covering an area of 40 square meters. The central crossbeam on the stage bears inscriptions from the 20th year of the Jiaqing reign, as well as the names Xueyuan, Shanchang, Jichuan, and Yiying, who were involved in its renovation. The two pillars in front of the stage are carved with upside-down double lions, each inscribed with the characters “Fu” (Fortune) and “Lu” (Prosperity). Three plaques are aligned across the front of the stage: the central one reads “大雅元音” (Great Elegant Tones), the left one “德” (Virtue), and the right one “象功” (Symbolic Merit). These characters are exquisitely carved, with traces of cinnabar and gold powder still visible, and the pillars are solid and sturdy.

The stage is made of wood, with the front section covering an area of 32 square meters. It features a hip-and-gable roof, raised-beam construction, and a stilt-style design. The front and back sections are separated by carved wooden panels. The orchestra's raised platform is 80 centimeters higher than the main stage. The center of the stage hangs a plaque reading “大雅元音” (Great Elegant Tones), while the entrance archway displays a plaque inscribed with “昭德” (Manifest Virtue), and the inner archway bears a plaque reading “象功” (Symbolic Merit). The wooden panels on both sides of the stage are inscribed with couplets referencing classical opera titles, reading: “Frequently inviting sisters three by three, daring to bring a cup of fragrant tea from the sacred school, why bother with the romance of the eastern chamber or the jealousy of the western tower; visiting friends one by one, wandering deep into the spring woods, leaving behind a few fresh bamboo shoots, thus avoiding the bamboo mountain’s tile fights and roadside escapes.” The front pillars are adorned with carved upside-down lions supporting the eaves and brackets, alongside bas-relief carvings of theatrical figures. Below the stage, there are rows of wooden benches on either side for passersby to rest. The overall structure is exquisitely designed, simple yet elegant. Though it may not rival the ornate, gilded splendor of more elaborate opera stages, the Liaohe Stage demonstrates the ingenuity and unique character of its designers.

The Liaohe Stage is not located within a ancestral hall or temple but rather in the middle of a crucial pathway connecting the mountains to the river. Mountain villages—where timber and mountain produce are transported to Chenhan Valley—must pass through here, as do those traveling up Qiu Mountain toward Huangmei and Qichun. To the left of the stage flows the Liaohe Stream, while to the right lies a small street of shops. For over 400 years, the scenic landscape of mountains, flowing water, shops, and farmhouses has remained pleasant. The Liaohe Stage has always served the people, maintaining its human-centered philosophy unchanged to this day.

The plaques on the Liaohe Stage are unique. Traditional Chinese opera stages usually hang central plaques inscribed with phrases like “和声鸣盛” (Harmonious Sounds Celebrating Prosperity) or “钧天雅奏” (Heavenly Elegance), but the Liaohe Stage features “大雅元音” (Great Elegant Tones)—an inscription that appeals to both refined and popular tastes while retaining a grand and majestic aura. The ancestors of the Liao family originally came from Hukou, Jiangxi, and migrated to Susong in the early Ming Dynasty. Even back in Jiangxi, they had many disciples in the “pear garden” (traditional opera circles). After settling in the mountainous regions of Susong for many years, they continued this tradition. Opera troupes from Jiangxi frequently came to Susong to perform and exchange skills with them, which led to the construction of the Liaohe Stage. “大雅元音” reflects the refined and elegant nature of the performances held here.

Liaohe Village: In May 2004, the original Liaohe Village and Yangya Village merged and were renamed Liaohe Village. Located in the southwest of Beiyu Township, Liaohe Village covers a land area of 9 square kilometers, governs 24 villager groups, has 588 households, and a population of 2,438.

The village has a total of 836 acres of arable land, including 560 acres of paddy fields and 276 acres of dry land. The forested area spans 11,500 acres, including 2,000 acres of Chinese fir, 2,000 acres of moso bamboo, and 200 acres of chestnuts and mulberry.

The town construction of Liaohe Village has developed rapidly. In June 2005, it was approved as an Anqing municipal-level village... Detailed information about Liaohe Village++