Bahe Guild Hall

Bahe Guild Hall

Bahe Guild Hall is a cultural tourism attraction.

There is a road in Xiguan called "Enning Road." On this road once stood a legendary building that is familiar and deeply cherished by overseas Chinese worldwide — the Bahe Guild Hall. Its name is as widely known as a thunderous echo lingering in the air, evoking a sense of closeness no less than that of Shisifuzhong. The former myths of the Bahe Guild Hall have transformed the surviving Enning Road into an authentic historical enclave, a touching tale of “not tasting meat for three months,” and a renowned “Street of Cantonese Opera.” And Xiguan, having witnessed the vicissitudes of life, has become the “Hometown of Cantonese Opera and Performing Arts” due to the joys and sorrows of this ancient thoroughfare.

The “Bahe Guild Hall” was the guild of Cantonese opera performers, formerly known as the “Qionghua Guild Hall,” which was located in Foshan at the time. Because Cantonese opera performers joined the Taiping Rebellion, the Qionghua Guild Hall was razed to the ground by the Qing government in the fourth year of the Xianfeng era (1854), and many Cantonese opera artists were killed. Left with no options, the desperate performers had no choice but to leave their hometowns. Some fled overseas to Southeast Asia, while others escaped to Huangsha in Xiguan. In those days, Huangsha was truly desolate and bleak, referred to as the “land of beggars.” Yet the surviving performers, who had escaped death, lived like wandering ghosts, enduring humiliation and misery as they begged for food on this “land of beggars.”

In the 15th year of the Guangxu reign during the late Qing Dynasty (1889 AD), the suffering Cantonese opera performers received selfless help from a scholar named Liang Tongshan, who bravely assisted them in appealing to the imperial court and ultimately winning the case. Only then was the art of Cantonese opera able to revive. From that moment on, the “Cantonese opera artists who rose from the ashes” proudly purchased land in Huangsha and built a grand building — the Bahe Guild Hall — that could accommodate a thousand residents. This amazed and inspired Chinese people around the world, leading to widespread retelling as a legendary tale. The once-obscure Huangsha flourished after the establishment of the Bahe Guild Hall, becoming a bustling area in Xiguan and a vibrant cultural scene of old Guangzhou.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, the Bahe Guild Hall was like an entertainment venue that “shone like fireworks in an endless night.” Its lights were dazzling, and there were performances every night. Famous Cantonese opera stars competed to showcase their talents and sell shows, while fans and enthusiasts eagerly listened, supported, and celebrated the performances. It was during those years that a large number of passionate Cantonese opera fans emerged and grew in number.

The “Bahe Guild Hall” was divided into eight halls, providing accommodation for performers after their troupes disbanded. These were organized by trade: Zhaohui Hall, Qinghe Hall, Fuhe Hall, Xinhe Hall, Yonghe Hall, Dehe Hall, Shenhe Hall, and Puhe Hall.

The Bahe Guild Hall also housed various institutions:

Convenience Station: Equivalent to a modern-day infirmary, it employed one doctor to treat performers and had staff to purchase medicines on their behalf.

Elderly Care Home: Members over 60 without family support could live here and receive meals (there were usually 20–30 elderly residents).

Funeral Office: An institution handling the posthumous affairs of elderly performers. It employed one full-time worker responsible for burying the deceased. Normally, the worker also did laundry and prepared medicine for these seniors.

Bahe Primary School: Admitted children of performers and nearby residents, with all tuition and fees covered by the Bahe Guild Hall.

Heyi Company: Established in the late Guangxu era, it was a theatrical equipment business founded by performers themselves to combat exploitation by box owners.

The leadership system of the Bahe Guild Hall evolved continuously with the times. Initially, it operated under a “guild leader system,” where respected actors and staff were elected by all members. The guild leader held supreme authority, managing everything from opera affairs to the personal lives of performers. Past guild leaders include: Kuang Xinhua, Liang Qingji, Xiao Wu Feizan, Zuo Dafu, Yi Jin, Zeng Dashun, Gongjiao Ye Sheng, Chen Xiaolu, Li Yunquan (Daniu Tong), Liang Yao (Zong Huaqing), and Shao Xinhua (Ren Junsan).

In 1937, Japanese warplanes bombed Guangzhou, and the “Bahe Guild Hall” was completely destroyed. The year after the victory in the Anti-Japanese War (1946), overseas “Bahe” members hoped to reunite. They held charity performances to raise funds and rebuilt the “Bahe Guild Hall” on Enning Road, renaming it the “Guangdong Cantonese Opera Bahe Association.” The term “Bahe” refers to eight “trades” that form the whole, including costumes, performers, instruments, hanging paintings, etc., none of which can be missing.

The “Bahe Guild Hall,” built among the residential houses of the old city, may be small in size, but its cohesive power and appeal to Cantonese opera performers are immense. Posters promoting performances and photos of famous Cantonese opera figures from past generations adorn three walls of the hall. Familiar faces include renowned performers such as Chen Xinghan, Guan Dexing, Liang Shaokai, Yam Kim-fai and Pak Suet-sin, Leung Sing-bor, and Tang Bik-wan, as well as well-known Hong Kong entertainment celebrities like Teresa Teng, Law Kar-ying, Lee Heung-kam, and Adam Cheng.

“Bahe” has branches all over the world. Wherever there are Chinese communities and Cantonese opera, there is a Bahe Guild Hall. Due to the long history and rich cultural foundation of the Guangzhou Bahe, branches around the world regard it as the origin. Every year on the Teachers' Day of the opera, members from Guangzhou and Hong Kong gather together, with the Guangzhou Bahe Guild Hall serving as the main base. Additionally, members specially built the Cantonese Opera Bahe Cemetery in Guangzhou, demonstrating the unity and close bonds among Bahe members.

As the saying goes, “Where there is well water, there are songs of Liu Yong.” But in Xiguan, it’s “Where there is Cantonese, there is Cantonese music!” This gentle, flowing melody that has slowly traversed the joys and sorrows of people still lingers in countless dreams, flying over mountains. It still resonates in hometowns, brimming with nostalgia. Perhaps it sings of the refined yet unpretentious spirit of the Cantonese people — cheerful, carefree, united in joy, indifferent to fame or disgrace, and weaving a long, peaceful daily life.

Address: No. 197, Enning Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou City

Type: Historical Architecture

Recommended Visit Duration: 0.5–1 hour

Phone: 020-81701877

Opening Hours:

Open all day (exterior view only); rehearsals typically take place around 12:30 PM, allowing visitors to enter and listen to performances.

Ticket Information:

Free admission.