Huguang Guild Hall (1) Introduction & Directions

Welcome to China Report's Digital Introduction to the Huguang Guild Hall, in the Xuanwu District of Beijing. The Huguang guild Hall is not a major hot spot for international tourism, yet nevertheless, it is considered a location of great historical importance, and as such it is high level protected landmark of the city of Beijing.

Constructed in the year 1807 the Beijing Huguang Guild Hall is among now treasured and rare buildings dating the the earliest 19th century development of the city, many of which were found near the location, which at the time sat strategically outside of the south gate of the still walled city, and also after the turn into the 20th century, near it central southern station situated at Qianmen and Shengyangmen. Intended to serve as an important Peking Opera, the most popular local art in that era, the

Very accurate and up to date Map of Beijing City Center , complete area of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), Square of Heavenly Peace, Beihai (North Lake) Park, the South and Middle Lakes (Zhongnanhai) and area's of surrounding districts of Xicheng, Dongcheng, Chongwen and Xuanwu. Map detail includes names of alley's (Hutong) and even side alley's.

Map clearly marks the location of all Landmarks, Historic Monuments, hotspots and various sites of interest within the map area. Please browse the map and follow the links to additional information, maps and photo's of each location and site.

Huguang Guild Hall is unusual to its surroundings in that it was designed in a traditional Chinese Style, somewhat unlike surrounding structures, all of which have the more modern but also stern look of the Colonial Era of commerce, banking and global trade development. Although today one would hardly notice, in its heydays the Huguang Guild Hall was ranked among the 4 most famous Peking Opera Theatres in the city, which by itself was the most glamorous, posh and popular art of the time.

As one may find upon closer study of the history of the art of Peking Opera, what today seems like a modest type complex surrounded by increasingly higher glass and steel towers, was known as one of the "Four Great Theatres" in all of Beijing and it was major location in the up-scale social life in the city.

For a full century, the Huguang Guild Hall retained its status as the place to be and be seen or take your friends in order to impress them, and as such, for all the above reasons, at the dawn of yet another new era, the theatre building became a part of major political events of the time as well. That is, although today few international travelers may be able to recall the exact events of the time, in the 20th century, the Qing Dynasty of China which had its Capital at Beijing, collapsed leaving long simmering currents of discontent free reign over the city and Nation. It was in this era of political renewal but also upheaval that the theatre was selected as the venue for a major political event, the Convention of the Revolutionary Alliance which had overthrown the feaudal rule of the Qing. Hence, subsequently on August 25 of 1912 during this convention and before an audience of several hundred party

activists and several thousand spectators, the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang or KMT) was founded at the guild hall. Sun Yat Sen, the then Premier of the Republic, was chosen as the party chairman with Huang Xing as his deputy and as we now know, the theatre became even more legendary as the KMT Party rose in importance throughout the rearranging and reassembling nation. Although the road to modernization and a new form of political unity would be long and extremely harsh, today long after, that special day in August of 1912 is lastingly commemorated in the preserving of this building complex. In addition, today again nearly equally important, the Huguang Guild Hall serves as a small museum to- and memorial spot to Peking Opera and the rich

In case you have grown curious and would like to share a taste of what still is an exquisite little experience, make your way through the chaos and traffic of the Xuanwu District to Nanxinhua Road to scout out the location and have a browse about. During daytime hours not much will be going on and you could explore most of the complex as long as one keeps the proper respects. For the full experience, arrange for an evening dinner experience with a high quality peking opera show, which is todays speciality of the Huguang Guild Hall. Afterwards and at any time, you might want to stroll about the neighborhood heading north or nothwestward while keeping an eye out for additional architecture dated to the same era.

Fans of the art of Peking Opera and those in love with the history of Beijing must visit at least once. When, tickets to the Peking Opera shows given at the Guild Hall are sold, those eager to try and approach the experience may refer to the former sister theatre of Huguang Guild Hall, the almost equally legendary Zhengyici Theatre, which is the one remaining Peking Opera Theatre housed in a historically original traditional Qing Dynasty Era Temple. The physical distance between the two theatres is actually quite large, however historically the two are intertwined forever.

Other more modern Peking Opera Theatres are there to

Huguang Guild Hall - How to get There -

The Huguang Guild Hall and historic Peking Opera Theatre is situated at Luomashi, which is a subdistrict or area on the northern rim of the Xuanwu District. Another way to put its location would be to say it is it is one block west of the Zhushikou Intersection (which is where Qianmen Dajie and Zhushikou Dajie intersect). However, for those unfamiliar with the city it would be easiest to describe the exact location of the Huguang Guild Hall as immediately off the south end of the now popular tourist magnet annex upscaled shopping street know as Qianmen Nan Dajie or Qianmen South Boulevard).

For best understanding, please refer to the available maps to guide your way to the destination.

When stuyding the map of the subway metro system one may find that Line 7, east to west and vice versa passes through the Zhushikou and Hufangqiao Intersections, which are situated one block to the east and one block to the west of Huguang Guild Hall. Choosing the subway/metro sytem as you easiest mode of transportation around the city, this leaves a walk of one city block to end up there.

Frankly, other modes of transportation are likely to be worse. Even the taking of taxi cab to the location may result in being bogged down in local traffic. Needles to say, bus lines - usually well filled with other passengers, are not faster nor more convenient. A bicycle ride to the location might be

Dajie and the Tianqiao Intersection where one will find the legendary Wansheng Chinese Acrobatics Theatre (or one could do the reverse route). This route can also be hiked for a city exploration adventure, however please do mind, distances within Beijing are often more than they seem to be on a tourist map. In case, at the very least, make sure to pick the correct day without abundant heat or opposite negative weather features.

deliver an equally stunning however slightly less original or historical experience. Those who quite frankly could care less about Peking Opera but are in search of the political monuments hidden abouts the city may do better to head westwards to Caishikou where a number of former residences of politically important persons may be found situated and where there is another Guild Hall, the Hunan Guild Hall which is also a national monument. Huguang Guild Hall is however the only Guild Hall in the city to also include a Peking Opera Stage and Hall.

Huguang Guild Hall - Architecture:

Not too much information can be given on the architecture of Huguang Guild Hall. Constructed in 1807 AD, it is a traditional Chinese style building. Large parts of the building consist mainly of wooden parts which have ben joined together without the use of nails therfor no smking is allowed inside at any time. Exterior decorations include carved stone, colorful traditional patterns, brackets and upturned eaves, small roofline bells and traditional red paper lampions to brighten up the evenings and attract attention.

As adjacent map shows the entire complex covers a large area, and the

History of Huguang Guild Hall:

As briefly recounted above, the history of the Huguang Guild Hall is that of a spectacular location where all strata of the cities society came for decades to mix and mingle, meanwhile chatting away, gossiping, looking, and enjoying each others company as much as enjoying the Peking Opera Show. That said, the Huguang Guild Hall was perhaps the most luxurious of all Peking Opera Halls and therefor it was mostly the realm of the great names, on stage as well as in the audience. Countless local heroes, many now forgotten, others forever famed or blamed in history have enjoyed a sit in the audience at this grand theatre, a place not only itself a showcase center of the performing arts, but also situated in a wider area of the city which must be recognized as the historical center of drama and entertainment. Together with the Wansheng Theatre and the charming historic Zhengyici Theatre the Huguang Guild Hall is thus one of the few historic monuments still able to remind us of a bygone era of glitz and glamour and also an area of the city with its own set of rules, a center of entertainment and thrill where everyone, be they rich or poor, came to seek out and indulge in their favorite pass time. Most notable, and duly remembered in official minds and histories the Xuanwu District was situated in the less glamorous parts of the city, and situated

main buildings of the hall include the opera building on the south side, the center of which is of course shaped by the stage. Then there are the Wenchang Building , Xiangxian Temple and also a small courtyard with Chuwan hall on the north side.

The Peking Opera theatre -today the crowning piece of the restaurant dining experience, is renowned for its magnificent interiors, which is colored in red, green and gold, and decked out with tables and equipped with a stone floor. Housed inside the structures is a small tea house and since the year 1997 the Huguang Guild Hall also contains a small museum which exhibits the theatre's rich history of Beijing opera. Unfortunately however, the exhibition is by far not as rich as may have been possible, arguably, due to a lack of space rather than appropriate history.

outside of the walls the area was accessible to nearly everyone, including people from all walks of life. Next to the much lauded traditional arts today enshrined as Peking Opera and Chinese Acrobatics, there were the temples and fortune tellers for solace, and sing song girls, prostitutes and bars for other cravings. In between were strewn various markets, some of which still exist today. In terms of entertainment and commerce, the entire area was a grandiose success, achieving more than just regional fame. In fact, as enshrined in local folk tales now recorded into little tourist books, around the time of the opening of the Huguang Guild Hall, the area was already so renowned for its fun and vices that it was rumored that even Emperors had secretly visited to indulge in the glories of the Beijing nightlife to be found in the hutong areas south and outside of the city wall gates along the central axis of the city. As the Huguang Guild Hall stood and had its spectacular shows involving the absolute stars of the art.

Prior to its opening, the location of the Huguang Guild Hall and Opera Theatre had already been occupied. Originally, the building was used as a home mansion for various officials during the then ruling Qing Dynasty. Only subsequently, the building had a structural overhaul which transformed it from private luxury living space into its current form, that of a lavish theatre.

The current official opening date does not as much refer to the establishment of this location as a meeting place for various members of the going elite (not only royals but also officers, officers and literati). It was only after its establishment that it also became a haven for political activists.

As now recorded and remembered the Beijing Huguang Guild Hall - which included the Opera Theatre and the

Scenes from the interior lay-out of the Huguang Guild Hall. On the inside the complex seems alike a venerable little palace such as one may find within the northern parts of the old inner city, although of course the Royal Mansions such as that of Prince Chun are by far more spacious, lavage and luxurious in decorations, materials and designs. Until as recent as the year 2005 surrounded by miles upon miles of Hutong lanes, the theatre formed a spectacular palace surrounded by a world of greyish slums and an abundance of people packed together in what amounted to the lower class neighborhood of the otherwise elitist and regal city.

current arrangement of halls- was established in the 10th year of the reign of Emperor Jiaqing of the Qing Dynasty (1807 AD). The Huguang Guild Hall then derives its name from an original function, which was the gathering place of students from the provinces of Hunan and Hubei who in a 4 yearly rotation, were bound for imperial exams in Beijing, where they were to attempt their successful entry into the world of Government officialdom and hopefully fortunate future as a member of the upper strata of society within the nation. Families paid handsome money for their son to achieve such a feat, therefor, as the sons of the well to do arrived for their stay in the city, finding lodgings in the surrounding siheyuan and hutong areas, the Guild Hall served an important central guest house and reception point of finances to pass into the city. In between, when the from Hunan and Hubei were off within their provinces, the Guild Hall soon became a favored haunt of businessmen and cultural elites. In a time when the Qing Dynasty was under pressure however the cultural life of Beijing was still in its heydays, the hall was noted for its profound cultural creations and excellent Beijing Opera culture tradition.

In 1912, the statesman Sun Yat-sen visited the Huguang Guild Hall five times to deliver political speeches. On August 25, 1912, he presided over and held the Founding Conference of the Kuomintang.

Subsequently, during the years of the Republic of China, the Huguang Guild Hall was the favored stage of such opera masters as Tan Xinpei, Yu Shuyan and Mei Lanfang. Other great stars such as Chen Delin and Wang Zhijun also performed there. The success of the theatre lasted well into the 1930s, however after the city fell under the influence of Japanese Invaders slowly but steadily encroaching from the north, intellectuals, artists and renowned local celebrities disappeared from the scene scattering to cities across the nation and often -albeit temporarily- seeking refuge in overseas nations. With the dying of tradition and cultural life in the city, the theatre slowly fell from grace starting a long period of waiting for renewed attention from a fresh public.

History of Huguang Guild Hall:

To be honest, the only seeming disappointment to the Huguang Guild Hall today is its rather modest Peking Opera Museum and exhibition. In all fairness, leaving the main Opera Theatre Hall untouched and preserved in all its colorful splendor, one does come to expect something of the museum to go with this most treasured of Opera Halls. However, the small space available, one hall, only allows for so much. Hence, there is a apparent lack of historic costumes, face masks and information on who played what and when. It must have been spectacular, however so far few historic photos, or other materials are available for viewing at the Hall. In fact, compared to the minute display at the Zhengyici Theatre, and the fabulous costumes enshrined on display in the entrance hallways to the Jiangguo Hotel, the opera exhibits at the Huguang Guild Hall are different but only barely tops its fellow

The main eye catcher is a donated tabloid of inlaid jade depicting the 7 great Peking Opera actors of the 20th century featuring as the central star the internationally acclaimed and truly unforgettable master Mei Lanfang, a master of the Dan Art and inventor of a school of art techniques which is still practised with pride today. The others are hard to identify but should be Mei Baojiu, Ma Lianliang (1901-1966), Tan Fuying (1906-1977), Yang Baosen (1910-1958), Xi Xiaobo (1910-1977) and possibly Li Yuru. It is unclear

who played with which performance when, or even what the highlights of decades of top quality Peking Opera were exactly, but each master is known to have had his own style type and use of techniques as well as what their favorite plays were. As is widely known, Mei Lanfang (almost) exclusively played the Dan type of role, which is a female role played by a male actor, a legacy left over from nearly a century of Imperial Ban imposed on women acting and working in Peking Opera theatres.

Browse about the museum hall to have a further look at a small variety of historical photos and inspect altogether 4 antique Peking Opera costumes which are on display shielded from touch by a thick fiberglass wall. a few relic objects are there as well and a small audiovisual display completes your museum and historic introduction on the spot.

theatres. The truth is that the real museum is actually the restored Peking Opera Theatre Hall which one can best the various intricacies and decorations one may best review by simply joining one of the evening performances and having a browse about before or after the show The Peking Opera stage at Huguang Hall is only comparable to that of the oldest wooden theatre in China today, which is the sister theatre, the Zhengyici Opera Temple. Other such stages do exist but all of these were part of Imperial Mansions (Prince Gong Palace) and even the various Imperial Palaces (the Forbidden City, later Zhongnanhai, the Pavilion of Cheerful Melodies at the Qianlong Retirement Palace (Palace of Peace and Longevity), at the Summer Palace Yiheyuan etc) however such halls were not by far as open to the public sphere as were the Huguang Hall and the Zhengyici Theatre.

Fallen into disuse after the advent of the Peoples Republic of China, which soon ended commerce and gradually launched more and more vicious attacks against the art of Peking Opera, the historic theatre lingered in obscurity between the downtrodden workers in the Hutong of the Xuanwu District, to who it was still a temple and place which reminded them of a bygone era of far less austerity in all aspects of the public sphere. Surviving the cultural revolution era mainly due to its historic legacy as the birthplace of the founding party of the first Republic led by Sun Yat-Sen, a man lauded in numerous Communist Propaganda publications, the theatre lingered for yet more than another decade with little interest forthcoming from the local public. Meanwhile, in a brief era of unusually progressive thinking among the party leadership (specifically Hu Yaobang, former Party Secretary fallen from grace soon after), in order protect the precious heritage resource left over from a turbulent century, the Beijing People’s Government finally declared Huguang Guild Hall as a culture relic protection site of Beijing in May 1984, finally returning some recognition to an art and an era which helped shape the Capital City as well as the Nations political life.

According to the Huguang Guild Hall official web site, in December 1986, Zhang Kaiji, a member of Beijing CPPCC and

Chief Architect of Municipal Architecture Design Institute, put forward the proposal of reconstructing Beijing Historical Guild Hall into an Opera Museum, which aroused attentions of leaders (among the Jiang Zhemin a known Peking Opera enthusiast) who investigated Huguang Guild Hall and made the decision to restore it later. Through efforts of people from all walks of life over ten years, the restoration of Huguang Guild Hall was completed in April 1996.

On May 8th of the same year, Beijing Huguang Guild Hall was open to the public. The grand opera house was represented with antique colored drawing by workers through careful investigation and study. There is a tablet inscribed with “Nishang Tongyong” that means to sing and enjoy opera together, the couplets on the massive pillars are about 5.3m, the first line of couplets was written “To have an audience with Royal Court, majestic and grand like in Hunan and Hubei” and the second line was written “To sing and dance, delighted and cheered for the profound literature and art”. There are square tables of antique beauty arranged neatly at the two-storey auditorium, a more comfortable environment for audiences. It remains the original architecture style that is plain and elegant with spacious attic, carved beams and painted rafters, winding path, and becomes beautiful scenery in the southern part of Beijing. Through long-playing collection of cultural relics and intense preparation, Beijing Huguang Guild Hall was declared to be established as the 100th museum of Beijing [i.e. Beijing Traditional Opera Museum] on September 6th, 1997. The reconstruction of Huguang Guild Hall brings new attractions to Beijing, not only develops tourism resource, but also is conducive to education in patriotism for teenagers. Huguang Guild Hall was listed as one patriotism education base of first batch by Xuanwu District Party Committee and District People’s Government.

In order to support traditional opera research and popularization among the current Beijing populace, the grand opera house reopened in the spring of 1996. Today, having survived Communism in general and the cultural revolution more specifically as well as two decades of indifference from the general public, the Peking Opera theatre is once again operational as well as thriving. Again, as they have for decades in the previous century, famous Peking opera performers come to the opera tower to perform almost every night. For those who want to have a taste of a truly classical side of Beijing and Chinese culture while enjoying a cup of tea and having a splendid forever memorable evening, the Huguang Guild Hall is among the two best and most original choices. Go join 6:30 pm daily show at the