Zhou Xinfang

Who was Zhou Xinfang?

Zhou Xinfang, was an exceptionally well known Beijing Opera actor who died in the Cultural Revolution. He is regarded as one of the greatest grand masters of Beijing Opera. He is the best known and leading member of the Shanghai School of Beijing Opera. He is the father of Michael Chow and Tsai Chin and grandfather of actress China Chow. He is also father-in-law to actor/director Ho Yi who is married to his youngest daughter Vivian Chow.

Zhou, a native of Cixi, Ningbo, Zhejiang, was born in Qingjiangpu, north Jiangsu in 1895, in a family with a tradition of opera performance. He started to learn Beijing opera at 6, and made his debut as child role in Hangzhou at age of 7, thus acquiring a stage name "Qi Ling Tong" or "seven-year-old child", because of which later, he is known as the founder of the "Qi style". Recent research by the official "Zhou Xinfang Art Research Centre" (周信芳艺术研究中心）in Shanghai, credits him having performed over 650 titles of Beijing Opera in his career.