The Beijing Opera Museum, situated in the Huguang Guild Hall of Xuanwu District, adjacent to Hufang Bridge, is a cultural treasure trove. Officially completed and opened to the public on September 6, 1997, it marks the 100th museum established in Beijing. The Huguang Guild Hall, which commenced construction in 1807 during the 12th year of the Jiaqing Emperor’s reign in the Qing Dynasty, is a complex of structures. It includes the Grand Theater, the Temple of Local Worthies, the Wenchang Pavilion, the Baoshan Hall, the Chuwan Hall, and the Pavilion of Remembrance in Wind and Rain.
Historically, this place served as a gathering spot for students and merchants from Hunan and Hubei provinces, rich in history and cultural significance. It is also known for its excellent tradition of Peking Opera culture, making it a hub of cultural exchange. Renowned Peking Opera masters such as Tan Xinpei, Yu Shuyuan, and Mei Lanfang have graced this stage, making it a renowned venue for opera performances at the time.
In 1912, the great revolutionary pioneer Sun Yat-sen visited the Huguang Guild Hall five times to deliver political speeches. To better serve the comprehensive functions of opera research and popularization, the Grand Theater of the Huguang Guild Hall was opened in the spring of 1996. Renowned performers from the Beijing Opera House present brilliant opera performances every evening.
The basic exhibition of the Opera Museum is titled ‘A Brief History of Beijing Opera.’ This exhibition showcases the development history of Beijing opera, primarily Peking Opera, through detailed and valuable opera documents, artifacts, images, and audiovisual materials.The exhibits, collected with great difficulty, include the apprenticeship diagrams of Peking Opera masters Wang Yaoqing and Mei Lanfang, as well as the costumes used by the martial arts opera master Yang Xiaolou. The museum operates from 09:30 to 11:00 and 13:30 to 15:00 all year round. However, please note that the specific business status is subject to the day’s opening conditions.
