Beijing Opera Museum

　　The Beijing Opera Museum is the 100th museum built and opened in Beijing. It was officially completed and opened to the public in 1997. This is the 100th museum built and opened in Beijing. The Huguang Guild Hall was originally built in the 12th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1807), and includes a grand theater, Xiangxian Ancestral Hall, Wenchang Pavilion, Baoshan Hall, Chuwantang, and Fengyu Huai Ren Hall, among other structures. In its heyday, this site served as a gathering place for scholars and merchants from Hunan and Hubei provinces who came to the capital, boasting a long history, profound cultural heritage, and a strong tradition of Peking Opera, making it a hub of cultural talent.

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　　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), and the grand stage was added during the Daoguang era. The guild hall faces east and sits west, covering a total area of over 43,000 square meters, with its entrance adorned with exquisite brick carvings. The front section contains the theater, the middle section houses the Wenchang Pavilion, Xiangxian Ancestral Hall, and the Zi Wu Well, while the rear section includes the Baoshan Hall, Chuwantang, Fengyu Huai Ren Hall, and a small garden. The theater is located at the front of the guild hall, with two-tiered viewing galleries on the north, east, and west sides that can accommodate over a thousand people. There is a couplet that reads: “Facing the imperial court, the grandeur is boundless, as if amidst the clouds and dreams of Dongting Lake; dancing along the central avenue, melodies abound, echoing the timeless refined tunes.” The Huguang Guild Hall was later converted into the Beijing Opera Museum, tasked with popularizing opera knowledge and showcasing premium opera performances. The grand theater of the Huguang Guild Hall has regained its former splendor. The backdrop of the stage features yellow silk embroidered with colorful patterns of dragons and phoenixes playing with a pearl, peonies, bats, and symbols of good fortune. After the Republic of China era, legendary Peking Opera masters such as Tan Xinpei, Yu Shuyan, and Mei Lanfang all performed here, making it a renowned venue for opera performances at the time.

　　A couplet approximately 3.6 meters long hangs from the pillars in front of the theater, which reads: “Facing the imperial court, the grandeur is boundless, as if amidst the clouds and dreams of Dongting Lake; dancing along the central avenue, melodies abound, echoing the timeless refined tunes.” Above the stage is a plaque inscribed with the words “Nishang Tong Yong” (Singing the Robe Together), shining brilliantly with gold characters on a black background. The second floor is surrounded by box-style viewing galleries, with 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.