Houses in China - Part 4:Tongzilou

China Travel Services

The Beijing People's Art Theatre is one of the nation's best. Since its establishment in 1952, the troupe has put on nearly 300 plays. Their performances have earned them a reputation for excellence at home and abroad. However, when audiences enjoy the troupe's fabulous performances, few could imagine the conditions the actors used to live in. Like other work units, the Beijing People's Art Theatre faced a severe housing shortage. The Theatre's actors were forced to live in crowded tongzilou behind the magnificent theatre.

Chen Yonggui was the Vice-Premier in charge of Agriculture in the late 1970's. In the 60’s he became famous for leading his village to build farming terraces under harsh conditions. The Central Committee of China set his experience as an example for the whole country. The Chinese naturally accepted that inconveniences should not stop one from doing a good job. In the Beijing People's Art Theatre, even leading officials were living in the tongzilou. Having senior members of the theatre living alongside them helped younger actors bear their crowded living conditions more willingly.

On stage and screen, Yang Lixin was a successful actor. In part, this was due to his experience living in the tongzilou. But even a successful career couldn't help Yang Lixin get a better accomondation. Resolving the housing problem depended on the macro planning of Beijing's infrastructure construction, which involved many accidental elements. In 1983, a fire broke out in the Beijing Friendship Hotel Theatre, which became an opportunity for the actors of the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

Before the fire in the Beijing Friendship Hotel Theatre, nobody considered theatres to be fire risks. Thanks to the municipal government's concern for the Capital Theatre, where the Beijing People's Art Theatre performed, Yang Lixin and his colleagues were moved to new apartments. Not all people in work units were that lucky, and many were tired of waiting. In order to get better houses, some people were willing give up their careers to switch to a job providing houses. Many workers faced a difficult choice between better housing and improving their careers.