Huguang Huiguan — Beijing's haunted opera house built for the poor

The Huguang Huiguan (Huguang Guild Hall) is located in Beijing's former Xuanwu district. Built in 1807 as a residence for poor scholars and merchants from the Huguang region (Hubei and Hunan provinces), the building later became a famous Peking opera venue. The hall has a reputation as one of Beijing's most haunted locations. Staff and visitors have reported poltergeist-like activity including chairs moving on their own in the performance hall, the sound of opera singing echoing through the building when no performers are present, and cold spots that appear suddenly in the corridors. According to local legend, the guild hall was built on the site of a former graveyard, and the spirits of the dead were disturbed by the construction. Some accounts describe seeing figures in Qing dynasty clothing among the audience seats during late-night events, and performers have reported the sensation of unseen hands adjusting their costumes backstage. The building's ornate wooden interior, with its carved screens and traditional Chinese architectural details, creates an atmosphere that connects directly to the imperial Beijing of two centuries ago. In Chinese folk religion, the disturbance of graves is considered one of the most potent sources of supernatural activity.