From Shanghai Daily:
BEIJING’S Guanghe Theater will be demolished as city officials intend to replace the unsafe ancient structure with a state-of-the-art facility.The opera theater was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and is the oldest in the city.
Beijing once boasted about 40 opera houses, most south of the Forbidden City. Of the remaining, Guanghe has a particularly rich history. It was here that master Mei Lanfang launched his career at the age of 10 more than 100. He starred as the girl weaver in the show with the evocative title “Palace of Everlasting Youth: Secret Betrothal at the Magpie Bridge.” [Full Text]
See also a China Culture article on the Opera Theater.
