Huguang Guild Hall

Huguang Guild Hall is a historic site under Beijing Municipal protection. It lies in the southwest of Hufangqiao in Xuanwu District.

During Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing dynasty it had successively been the residence of minister of justice Xu Qianxue, minister of military Yue Zhongqi, Secretary of the Grand Council Ji Xiaolan, and Imperial Censor Zhang Weiyin. In the 12th year of Emperor Jiaqing's reign in the Qing Dynasty donations were made to convert it to a guild hall. During Emperor Daoguang's and Guanxu's reigns it had been expanded and renovated for three times. In 1900, or the 28th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign, when the Eight Allied Force took Beijing, the hall was used as the headquarters of the U.S. troop. On August 25, 1912, Sun Yat-sen chaired the meeting for the founding of Kuomingtang here. The hall has also served as stage for famous Peking opera actors such as Tan Xinpei and Yu Shuyan.

The hall is divided into three parts, the principal one of which is at the center. Sitting on the north end of the central axis is the main hall; at the center of the axis, the living room; on its south end, the theatre. The three parts are joined by corridors. Main buildings are: the theatre, Wenchang Pavilion, Shrine of Virtuous Fellow Countrymen, and Chuwan Hall.

The theatre is one of the four remaining ones in Beijing that are located inside guild halls. It is five bays wide and seven bays deep, the central one being the stage. Between every two columns there is a 5.68-meter interval. The south side of the second floor is facing the stage, and other sides are seats. The double-floor backstage is five bays wide. The theatre is a wooden structure, with beams, double upturned eaves, and a tile-covered roof. Now the theatre has resumed its function as a stage for classic Peking operas.

The hall houses the Beijing Traditional Opera Museum. It shows the past and present of operas, especially Peking opera and Kunqu opera, in Beijing.

Address: No. 3 Hufangqiao, Xuanwu District, Beijing

Publishes at : 07-09-23 21:24

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