Located in Dashilan, the historical area of Beijings Qianmen enterprise zone, the Daguanlou Cinema is one of the earliest cinemas in China and is regarded as the birthplace of Chinese film.In the fall of 1905, Ren Qingtai, the owner of Fengtai Photo Studio, invited Peking Opera master Tan Xinpei to star in an opera film called Dingjun Mountain.
Traditional scenes such as Requesting Orders, Swordplay, and Battle were recorded as quiet movie segments, and publicly premiered at the then-named Daguanlou Theater on December 28, 1905, marking the start of Chinese cinemas century-long journey.Today, the Daguanlou Theater has been rebranded as the Daguanlou Cinema.
Its ground floor now houses a living museum, where stills from Dingjun Mountain, vintage posters, and antique movie projectors are on display, as if narrating the century-old story of Chinese cinema to us.A picture handled March 21, 2025 shows the interior decoration of the Daguanlou Cinema that keeps its sentimental design./ CGTNA photo handled March 21, 2025 reveals the interior decoration of the Daguanlou Cinema that keeps its sentimental design./ CGTNA picture taken on March 21, 2025 shows the interior design of the Daguanlou Cinema that retains its nostalgic style./ CGTNA image taken on March 21, 2025 shows the interior decoration of the Daguanlou Cinema that retains its nostalgic design./ CGTNWhile steeped in extensive historical significance, the Daguanlou Cinema has actually also taken an ingenious path.
Beyond establishing film-related product, it has actually created strong ties with the Dashilan location, becoming a dynamic model for the combination of culture and tourist.
Most of its customers are now domestic and abroad travelers, who come for its unique blend of motion picture screenings, shopping, and tea gratitude.