PART Ⅰ FAMOUS BEIJING THEATERS 1
Huguang Guildhall：Theater and Historical Site 3
The Chang’an Grand Theater： Venue Most Coveted by Performers of Traditional Opera 12
Liyuan Theater： Where High-ranking Officials and the Common People Enjoy Peking Opera Together 22
Guangdelou Theater： Dedicated to Both Peking Opera and Quyi 30
Tianqiaole Teahouse：Entertainment Venue that Celebrates the Common People 37
Zhengyici Theater： Living Fossil of Chinese Theater 43
Dongyuan Theater： Replica of an Imperial Structure 46
Lao She Teahouse an Epitome of Beijing Folklore 54
PART Ⅱ THE PINNACLE OF PEKING OPERA： A VISIT TO THE MEI LANFANG MEMORIAL 59
Biography of Mei Lanfang 61
Mei Lanfang’s Artistic Achievements 68
Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum 71
PART Ⅲ THE ABC OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE OPERAS 73
Origin of Traditional Operas in Beijing 75
Kunqu： Oral and Intangible Human Heritage 78
Peking Opera： An Important Representative of Beijing Vernacular Culture 82
Four Elements of Traditional Operas： Sheng， Dan， Jing and Chou 88
Peking Opera Stage Makeup 98
Costumes and Musical Instruments Are Works of Art 101