Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum(File photo)

Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum, 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 metres. At the top of the gate hangs an inscription - "Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum" - written by former Chinese leader 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 colourful drawings on its eaves, joins the east and west wingrooms 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.

Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum(File photo)

In the inner courtyard, the main quarters are the living room, the study and the bedroom. In these rooms the furniture formerly used by Mr. Mei is displayed, and on walls hangcalligraphies and paintings by his renowned artist friends. In the study, a part of Mr. Mei's collection of Chinese and foreign books, scripts and manuscripts of operas are kept on the bookshelves or in the bookcases. In the outer courtyard, which was the former reception room, is now an exhibition hall.

In the exhibition hall, "A Brief Account of the Life of Mei Lanfang" is on display. There are more than a hundred photographs recording his artistic career and glorious life, together with a small portion of his theatical costumes, head - ornaments and stage properties, as well as repertoire programs of various periods.

Souvenirs presented by Mei's friends both at home and abroad, calligraphies and paintings by distinguished ancient and contemporary artists,and programs of the performances by Mei Lanfang and earlier Beijing Opera actors in different periods of time are on display in the east wing showroom. These exhibits will be changed on regular intervals.