What is the historical background of Guanghe Building, a folk theater?

Guanghelou Theater, located in the east of Rou Shi Road outside Qianmen, is the earliest and most famous theater in the outer city of old Beijing. This theater was originally the garden of famous families in the late Ming Dynasty, and later it was changed to a tea garden.

In order to make money, Chajia expanded the tea garden area and built a small stage, which is the predecessor of Guanghe Building.

During Guangxu period, the tea garden was rebuilt, the area of the stage was enlarged, and some famous troupes and celebrities were often invited to perform in the tea garden, which gradually improved the popularity of the tea garden and the business was once very prosperous.

After Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, the tea family transferred the tea garden to a businessman named Wang. Boss Wang redecorated the tea garden and officially changed its name to Guanghelou Theater.

The stage of Guanghelou Theater is divided into two layers, the upper layer is the crown and the lower layer is the stage. The railing surrounds the stage, which has three prominent sides, and the audience can also see the actors' expressions from the silhouette. The audience is divided into two layers. There are long tables and benches downstairs, and people who watch the play have to "watch the play" sideways. Upstairs, the front row is full of boxes and there are scattered seats in the back row.

In the thirty-second year of Guangxu (1906), the famous Xi Liancheng troupe sang in Guanghe Building for three years. At that time, Mei Lanfang was still studying in Liancheng, Xi, and performed with famous actors Wang Xixiu and Lei Xifu at that time.

During the Republic of China, Fu Liancheng's troupe still performed here for many years, making Guanghe Building famous.

After the founding of New China, Guanghe Building was renovated, and now it has been renamed Guanghe Theatre.