Tianjin Guangdong Guild Hall

　　The Tianjin Guangdong Guild Hall is situated on Nanmennei Street in Nankai District, Tianjin. Construction started in December 1903 (the 29th year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty) and was completed in 1907 (the 33rd year of the Guangxu reign). After major renovations in 1985, it was converted into the Tianjin Opera Museum.

　　The theater building, which serves as the main structure of the guild hall, can accommodate up to six or seven hundred people, with private boxes upstairs and open seating downstairs. The wooden carvings on the stage are the most exquisite part, each reflecting the delicate beauty of southern carving craftsmanship. Other features such as the caisson ceiling, carved altar table, and stage all showcase unique design, making it a filming location for TV dramas such as "Shimmering Days" and "Letter from an Unknown Woman." Here, you can also enjoy distinctive performances like clapper talk and crosstalk.

　　The guild hall covers a construction area of 1,461 square meters and mainly consists of the entrance hall, main rooms, side rooms, corridors, and the theater building. It adopts the traditional courtyard layout, with a northern Chinese exterior style and interior decorations featuring the characteristics of Chaozhou, Guangdong. The theater building is the main structure of the hall. It utilizes the courtyard’s open space to create an enclosed performance area, supported by two parallel beams 21 meters long running north-south and crossbeams 19 meters long running east-west, forming a large-span space. The theater stage is 10 meters deep and 11 meters wide, with a spiral caisson ceiling at the top made of intricately joined fine wooden components. Its carved patterns are exquisitely crafted and relatively rare among similar structures. The wooden carvings on the stage are the highlight, and the front of the stage is inlaid with a large wooden carving of "Heavenly Officials Bestowing Blessings," which holds high artistic value.

　　The Tianjin Guangdong Guild Hall is rich in historical and cultural significance, possessing high value in terms of history, art, and science. After renovation, the guild hall has become a window for understanding and appreciating Chinese opera art and showcasing Chinese theatrical culture. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

　　Suggested Duration

　　1–2 hours

　　Transportation

　　Take buses No. 15, 161, 168, 611 Express, 635, 657, 693, 840, 855, 863, 865, or Minibus 61 and get off at the Drum Tower stop.

　　Admission Fee

　　10 RMB per person (half price for students)

　　Opening Hours

　　9:00–11:30, 14:00–16:30

　　Location

　　No. 31, Nanmenli Street, Nankai District, Tianjin

The Tianjin Guangdong Guild Hall is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.