Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6618 6628; adult Y80-120;
Ping'anli)
in the east of the grounds.
7.30-8.40pm Mar-Oct;
FORMER FǓRÉN UNIVERSITY
|HISTORIC BUILDING
( Yuán Fǔrén Dàxué; I Dingfu Jie; Ping'anli)
This magnificent building on Dingfu Jie, just around
the corner from Prince Gong's Residence, once housed Fǔrén University, founded by the
Benedictine order in 1925. Today it belongs to Běijīng Normal University. On the wall to
the west of the main door is a fading quality slogan from the Cultural Revolution, which
poetically intones: - 'The mighty leader Chairman Mao is the reddest, reddest of red suns
in our heart'. On the wall on the other side of the door is another lengthy slogan that has
been largely blotted out.
SONG QINGLING FORMER RESIDENCE
|MUSEUM
( Sòng Qìnglíng Gùjū; 6402 3195; 46 Beiheyan Lu; adult ¥20; 9am-5pm; Jishuitan)
Madam S
ò
ng is
lovingly venerated by the Chinese as the wife of Sun Yatsen, founder of the Republic of
China. Set in a lovely garden, her house, the former home of the father of Puyi (China's
last emperor), is rather dormant; on display are personal items, pictures, clothing and
books. But the building to the side houses a very comprehensive exhibition on Madam S
ò
ng's fascinating life, including the car given to her by Stalin, which comes with good Eng-
lish captions. You can find the museum on the northern side of Hòuhǎi Lake and within
reach of Prince Gong's residence.
MEI LANFANG FORMER RESIDENCE
( Méi Lánfāng Jìniàn Guǎn; 8322 3598; 9 Huguosi Jie; adult ¥10; 9am-4pm Tue-Sun; Ping'anli)
Place
of pilgrimage for Peking opera aficionados, this former
sìhéyuàn
(traditional courtyard
house) of actor Mei Lanfang (1894-1961) is tucked away in a
hútòng
that's named after
the nearby remains of Huguo Temple. Peking opera was popularised in the West by Mei
Lanfang, who played
dàn
(female roles) and is said to have influenced Charlie Chaplin.
His former residence has been preserved as a museum, replete with costumes, furniture,
opera programs and video presentations of his opera performances.
|MUSEUM
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE
PERFORMING ARTS (NCPA)
( Guójiā Dājùyuàn; 6655 0000; admission ¥40; 9am-5pm Tue-Sun; Tian'anmen West)
Critics have
compared it to an egg, but it looks more like a massive mercury bead, an ultramodern mis-
sile silo or the futuristic lair of a James Bond villain. If aliens ever mustered above
|CONCERT HALL
