Beijing Opera Museum

Beijing Opera Museum

The Beijing Opera Museum serves as a patriotic education base.

The Beijing Opera Museum is the 100th museum to be built and opened in Beijing. It was officially completed and opened to the public on September 6, 1997. This makes it the 100th museum to be established and opened in the city. The Huguang Guild Hall was originally built in the 12th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1807) and consists of a grand theater, the Xiangxian Ancestral Hall, the Wenchang Pavilion, the Baoshan Hall, the Chuwang Hall, the Fengyu Huai Ren Hall, and other structures. In its heyday, this site served as a residential and commercial hub for scholars and merchants from the provinces of Hunan and Hubei who came to the capital. It boasts a long history, rich cultural heritage, and a strong tradition of Peking Opera, making it a place where culture and talent flourished.

\

Historical records indicate that the original Huguang Guild Hall was first built in the 12th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1807 AD), with the main theater stage added during the Daoguang reign. The guild hall faces east and sits west, covering a total area of over 43,000 square meters, with an entrance adorned with exquisite brick carvings. The front section houses the theater, the middle section includes the Wenchang Pavilion, the Xiangxian Ancestral Hall, and the Zi Wu Well, while the rear section contains the Baoshan Hall, the Chuwang Hall, the Fengyu Huai Ren Hall, and a small garden. The theater is located at the front of the guild hall, surrounded on the north, east, and west sides by two-story viewing galleries that can accommodate over a thousand spectators. A couplet reads: “Tributes rise to the imperial court, a magnificent sight akin to the clouds and dreams of Dongting Lake; melodies dance along the central path, classical notes lingering like timeless spring snow.” The Huguang Guild Hall was later converted into the Beijing Opera Museum, tasked with promoting opera knowledge and showcasing outstanding opera performances. The grand theater of the Huguang Guild Hall has been restored to its former glory. The stage backdrop features golden silk embroidery in vibrant colors, depicting dragons and phoenixes playing with a pearl, peonies, bats, and auspicious motifs such as ruyi scepters. After the Republic of China era, eminent Peking Opera masters such as Tan Xinpei, Yu Shuyan, and Mei Lanfang all performed here, making it a renowned venue for opera at the time.

A couplet approximately 3.6 meters long hangs from the pillars in front of the theater, reading: “Tributes rise to the imperial court, a magnificent sight akin to the clouds and dreams of Dongting Lake; melodies dance along the central path, classical notes lingering like timeless spring snow.” Above the stage is a plaque inscribed with the words “Nishang Tong Yong” (Singing the Robe Together), rendered in gold characters on a black background, illuminating the space. The second floor is encircled by box-style viewing galleries, comprising a total of twelve boxes. Both the orchestra seating and the boxes are furnished with antique hardwood furniture, enhancing the ambiance for enjoying tea and opera, thus adding a touch of refined charm.