Former Site of the Shengping Office

Former Site of the Shengping Office

The former site of the Shengping Office is a cultural tourism attraction.

Destination Introduction

The former site of the Shengping Office is located on the west side of the southern entrance of Nanchang Street.

During the Qing Dynasty, the institution in charge of court theatrical performances was called the Nanshu Office, which originated in the Kangxi era. The Nanshu Office was under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department and once recruited folk artists to perform for the imperial court. During the Qianlong reign, the scale of the Nanshu Office expanded compared to before. In the seventh year of the Daoguang reign (1827), the Ten Instrument Ensemble was incorporated into the Zhonghe Music Bureau, an Archives Office was added, and the Nanshu Office was renamed the Shengping Office, which continued to oversee court performances. This arrangement lasted until the third year of the Xuantong reign (1911), spanning 162 years.

The scripts, archives, costumes, props, and performance photographs treasured by the Shengping Office are preserved in the Palace Museum. The former site of the Shengping Office includes the current campuses of Beijing No. 6 Middle School and No. 28 Middle School. The Shengping Office Theater Courtyard is one of the better-preserved building complexes, with a construction area of about 200 square meters. This theater courtyard is a quadrangle compound featuring a north-facing theater stage, with a projecting veranda in front of the north room of the courtyard, making it suitable for viewing performances. It is a key cultural relic protected at the municipal level in Beijing.

Location: Located on the west side of the southern entrance of Nanchang Street. Transportation Information

Transportation: Take bus routes 1, 4, 5, 10, 22, 37, 52, or 728 and get off at Zhongshan Park.

Beijing Xicheng District