Cross-Dressing in Peking Opera

Did you know, in the early days of Peking Opera, female roles were played by men?

The Qing imperial government had prohibited women from performing on stage, so male actors had no choice but to play female characters. These men were known as "Nan Dan" or “Male Divas” and underwent many years of rigorous training to portray women convincingly, from mastering delicate gestures to high-pitched vocals.

Not only were they expected to look like women, but they also had to adopt the mindset and behavior of women, as well. In fact, before his death Mei Lan Fang 梅兰芳, one of the most famous Beijing Opera masters, had starred as nearly every famous female beauty in Chinese history.