http://www.zhouxinfang.com/

Widely regarded as one of China’s cultural treasures, Beijing Opera began when the Four Great Anhui Troupes came to the city in 1790. With a traditional repertoire of more than 1,000 works, mostly taken from historical novels or traditional stories about civil, political and military struggles, this art form has been, and still is, highly influential. Due, in no small part, to Opera master Zhou Xinfang (1895-1975), a contemporary of Mei Lanfang, who brought a style all his own to less than plastic art form. Zhou founded the Qi style, and in his seventy-year long career performed 600 different Beijing Opera titles. His work inspired several generations of audiences, colleagues, and, not surprisingly, his family. Indeed, his daughter, Tsai Chin, is an internationally renowned stage and screen actress (The World of Suzie Wong [West End]; Joy Luck Club, Virgin Soldier, You Only Live Twice and Memoirs of a Geisha). While Zhou’s granddaughter, China Chow, is a top model and a Hollywood actress. Talent must lie in genes.

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
May 2006 issue