The predecessor of Guangyu Book Hall is the guild organization of Suzhou Pingtan artists. Originally named ‘Guangyu Guild Hall’, it was built in 1776 AD (the 41st year of Emperor Qianlong). In 1912, it was renamed ‘Guangyu Society’, taking the meaning of ‘glorifying the predecessors and enriching the descendants’. Now, the gate tower from the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, the commemorative stone pillar for the 150th anniversary, and the stele corridor displaying the history of Pingtan are all well preserved. Guangyu Society has laid a foundation for improving the status of Pingtan artists and the development of Pingtan art. It is a guild organization established relatively early in the Pingtan field, with a large number of participating actors, a long existence time, and a greater role in the development of Pingtan art. For more than two hundred years, famous masters and various schools have emerged in succession in Guangyu Society, and it has always been praised as ‘the sound of books from afar comes from Guangyu’. Suzhou is an elegant place. The local opera genre – Pingtan is known as the beautiful name of ‘storytelling’. The actors who perform operas are called ‘storytelling gentlemen’, the place where they perform is called ‘book hall’, and the audience who watch the performances are ‘storytelling listeners’. The names full of bookishness also bring very charming chants full of bookishness. Quite different from the ups and downs of Kunqu Opera, the 200-year-old Pingtan is an enduring and unique flower, mostly due to its popularity. Originating and popular in Suzhou and surrounding areas such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, it is sung in Suzhou dialect, and the language environment is familiar to the public. The actors sing and play by themselves, and the form is also vivid and delightful. It has become a favorite pastime for the people of old Suzhou. In the past, teahouses and book halls were like a pair of twins. Where there was a teahouse, there was always a book hall. Teahouses opened in the morning and book halls opened in the afternoon, very lively. Nowadays, although Pingtan is not as popular as pop songs, in Suzhou, there are still many storytelling fans, and some unique book halls are also preserved. Sitting there is like being in a real marketplace and experiencing the emotional life of ordinary people. The opening hours vary depending on different performances. The specific business hours are subject to the performance time.
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