The Gallery of Court Operas is located in the Building of Watching Operas and the Tower of Pleasant Sounds, the former imperial opera theater.

The exhibits are from the former collection of the Qing Court, including scripts, stage properties, costumes and headgears. There are also precious photos of the great actors in the late Qing dynasty, such as Chen Delin, Yang Xiaolou and Tan Xinpei. More than 110 exhibits reflect the entertainment activities enjoyed by the Qing emperor and empress, bringing to life the prosperity of Court Operas in the Qing dynasty.

It was an indispensable part of court life in the Qing Dynasty to watch operas. Court operas were most popular in the Qianlong (1736-1795) and Guangxu (1875- 1908) periods. Whenever there vas important festival and grand ceremony, Iike the birthdays of the emperor and empress, wedding and the New Year¡¯s Day, the emperor would call some courtiers to the Forbidden City to watch operas as an expression of imperial favor.

Exhibition Galleries in the Forbidden City

Gallery of Treasures
Gallery of Clocks and Watches
Gallery of Paintings
Gallery of Bronzes
Gallery of Ceramics
Gallery of Jade
Gallery of Enamel and Cloisonne
Gallery of Court Operas

Gallery of Court Operas of the Forbidden City

Costume and Stage Properties