Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), the outstanding exponent of Beijing Opera, was the great master of China's dramatic art. With patriotism and a deep love for his people, Mei Lanfang dedicated his whole life to the art of Beijing Opera.

During his stage career over half a century, he showed great skill inheriting the best traditions of the past and adapting them to alnew stage To enrich and ameliorate the Chinese stage he constantly and conscientiously sought to improve his art and created many lively and unforgettable artistic images by gathering together the best of the local and national operas.Mei Lanfang is the symbol of China's performing art and the pride of his people and nation.

Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall, situated at Huguosi Street, Beijing, was founded in October 1986. It was the former residence of Mei Lanfang since 1949 to 1961, a quiet typical Beijing courtyard covers a space of 700 square meters. At the top of the gate hangs an inscription - "Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall" - written by Chairman Deng Xiaoping. Facing the gate is a white marble statue of the great artist of the era. A veranda with red - lacquered pillars, decorated with colorful drawings on its eaves, joins the east and west wing rooms to the north main rooms. It is in this quiet and comfortable residence that Mei Lanfang lived and spent his last years until his death on August 8, 1961.

In 1965, the Mei family donated almost all of Mei Lanfang's valuable lifetime collection of books, manuscripts, calligraphies and paintings by distinguished artists and by himself, as well as other precious cultural relics and antiques to the government. Most are now preserved here with great care.

Besides, the memorial hall boasts a collection of 32,421 items in the categories of plays, books, photos, play lists, manuscripts, calligraphies and paintings, and material objects, etc. Most of these items have value of cultural relics. Quite a lot of the plays are hand-written copies of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and most are complete ones or only extant ones. Stills of Mei Lanfang and some other distinguished artists, group photos of the Mei School artists and foreign renowned artists, and the play lists of various theaters and communal gatherings for celebration from the end of the Qing Dynasty to modern times are all very precious.

Admission fee: 10 RMB / person

Opening hours: 9:00-16:00
Transportation
Take bus No. 22, 38, 47, 409, 626, 810, 826, get off at the station of Huguosi, then walk into the Huguo Street, and you'll see the Memorial Hall.