The Peony Pavilion

The Peony Pavilion is a play written by Tang Xianzu in the Ming Dynasty and first performed in 1598 at the Pavilion of Prince Teng. One of Tang's "Four Dreams", it has traditionally been performed as a Kunqu opera, but Chuan and Gan opera versions also exist. It is by far the most popular play of the Ming Dynasty, and is the primary showcase of the guimendan role type. All Kun theatre troupes include it in their repertoire. Recent adaptations have sought to inject new life into one of China's best-loved classical operas, though such efforts have met with opposition from the Kun opera traditionalists.

The performance tradition has focused on the love story between Du Liniang  and Liu Mengmei, though in its original text (standard translation: Cyril Birch), it has strong elements of dramatic warfare (specifically set in the Song defense against the Jin Dynasty).

Du Liniang is the daughter of an important official. Her maid encourages her to abandon her dull studies and take a walk in the garden, where she falls asleep. She dreams of her lover Liu Mengmei, whom in real life she has never met, before being awoken by falling petals. Unable to recover the enchantment of her dream, she wastes away and dies.

In hell, the underworld judge determines that her marriage with Liu Mengmei is predestined, and that she cannot be retained. Instead, she is sent to haunt him, who now inhabits the garden where they had their dream. Recognising the girl he met in his dreams, he agrees to exhume her. Du Liniang asks him to go to tell her father the news of her resurrection, but he treats Liu Mengmei as a grave robber and impostor. In the end, Liu Mengmei is only saved from death by torture by the announcement of the results of the imperial exams. He has topped the list; the emperor pardons all.

The Imperial Granary

Location：Nanxincang, 22 Dongsishitiao, Chaoyang District

Rebuilt in 1409 to replace the Yuan Dynasty structure initially in its place, the Imperial Granary predates the Forbidden City by ten years, and remains the only surviving granary of its kind. The imperial granaries – of which there were seven in what is now known as the Chaoyangmen area – were vital crop storage locations for the imperial household. Through its history, the Imperial Granary has witnessed 2 dynasties, 24 emperors, the fall of KMT and the rise of CCP. In 2001 the structure was granted the title of Key Cultural Relics of the State.
Currently, the Granary hosts private events and weekly traditional Kunqu opera performances.