Museum | China Kunqu Museum · National Protected Unit · Quanjin Guild Hall

A few years ago, I specifically passed through the Pingjiang Road district to visit the national key cultural relic protection unit "Quanjin Guild Hall", wanting to see the ancient stage, but unexpectedly it was closed for major repairs, and it reopened at the beginning of February 2024 (adjacent to the Suzhou Pingtan Museum/Shen Family Mansion). Before entering the museum, you can first take a look at the inscriptions about the Quanjin Guild Hall at the entrance. Perhaps due to the constraints of the building itself, although it tries to list as much Kunqu-related knowledge as possible, the display logic is not very smooth; therefore, it is best to have a good guide to lead the way, or to come during an event to experience (experience the lingering sound effects of the stage's caisson ceiling). Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (9:00 - 17:00, stop entering at 16:00) Location: No. 14, Zhong Zhangjia Alley, Gusu District, Suzhou City "Treasure of the Museum" — "Baohetang" Hall Name Lantern Carrier (National Second-Level Cultural Relic) The music carriage used by the "Baohetang" Suzhou Qingyin troupe at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China. The "Baohetang" hall name lantern carrier is composed of more than a hundred pieces of redwood carved panels, carved with pine, plum, bamboo, and birds; the top layer is inlaid with agate, jade, pearls, coral; around it hang more than a dozen lotus glass colored lanterns; the lower front has doors on the left and right for the hall name artists to enter and exit. Inside the carrier, there is space for a table and chairs, accommodating eight people sitting around, and it can hold musical instruments such as strings, flutes, and drums. It was originally passed down in the family of Cui Shuisheng, a Suzhou opera artist, and is rare in China. His family was known in Suzhou City in the 1930s as "Baohetang Women's Kunqu". This lantern carrier was donated to the Suzhou Opera Museum by Cui Shuisheng in the 1980s. China Kunqu Museum