Old traders' temple is banker's opera venue

Guqin (zither) player Yang Qing (left) performs with his students in Zhengyici. [Photo/China Daily]

In other shows guqin (zither) player Yang Qing will lead his students to play pieces adapted from the music of a TV version of A Dream of Red Mansions.

Zhengyici started out as a temple built in late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) by businessmen from Zhejiang.

The place was initially used as a gathering venue for traders and later made a temple for them to pay tribute to their ancestors.

In 1712, Zhengyici Theater was constructed. It was renovated in 1792 and 1866. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Peking Opera artists, including Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), performed there.

After the founding of New China in 1949, the theater was designated as a historic site protected by Xicheng district's government.

In 2010, Zhengyici was developed into a venue for regular performances like Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera and traditional Chinese folk music.

"I was in love with the venue," says Liu of the time he started at the theater.

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