As early as in Ming Dynasty, Foshan had the earliest association of Cantonese opera teams, Qionghua Guild Hall. In Qing Dynasty, the saying went that “Bahe comes after Jiqing, and Jiqing comes after Qionghua”. In Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, the industries, commerce and handcrafts businesses in Foshan were very prosperous, with abundant goods and numerous Guild Halls. Qionghua Assemably Hall was the place for the local Cantonese teams to participate in contests and performances in celebrating festivals.
                                                    More>>
  
Opera Platform : The opera platforms in Foshan in the early stage were simply made of bamboo and woods. In Ming and Qing Dynasty, the performances of Cantonese opera were flourishing, when there appeared up to 36 fixed opera platforms. In 1658, the Wanfu Platoform at Zumiao was renovated,c alled Huafeng Platform, with chambers in the front and two sides, being the largest and best opera platform in Lingnan Area, which is now well preserved.
Opera Theatre : In 1853, the first opera theatre in Foshan, Dangui Opera Theatre was established in Dawan (near current No.4 Middle School). Later on, the opera theatres like Qingping, Pujun, Taiping, Shengping, Yule and other theatres were set. The number of opera theatres reflected the flourishing activities of commercial performances of Cantonese opera.                                       More>>
  
 
 
 
 
In the early stages, the Cantonese opera teams were grouped into local teams and external teams. The local opera teams were consisted of the local opera performers. At that time, the opera teams had no fixed opera platforms. The local opera teams always went out for performances by boats in Pearl River Delta. The earliest opera boats were painted boats (Zidong Boat). Later sailboats were used, which were coated brown black, called “Black Boat”. In (1813), the local teams imitated the red boats of Jiangxi Yuntai governer, which were very prominent  with  red  color  on masts  and the boat body. Thus the Cantonese referred to the local opera team as “Red Boat”, and the Cantonese opera performers were called Red Boat Performers.
                                                    More>>
  
In 1854, Fenghuangyi Cantonese Opera performer Li Wenmao and Chen Kaihe, the leader of Guangdong Tiandi Assembly, rose up in Foshan and other places. The soldiers, wearing opera costumes and red muffle, were called “Red Muffle Army”. Li Wenmao led the Red Boat “Three Armies” (Wen Tiger, Meng Tiger and Fei Tiger) fighting in Guangdong and Guangxi, captured Xuzhou and Liuzhou and set up Dacheng State, and Li Wenmao was called “Pingjing King”. The risers issued coins and laws. The insurrection by Li Wenmao  gave   an   important  attack on Qing Dynasty, remarkable in Chinese history, especially the opera history.
                                                   More>> 
 
 
 
 
 
“ Muyu” : also called “Muyu” Song, was a local popular saying-and-singing art. The performance was accompanied with only a hollow wood. “ Bayin” : an instrument made of woodwind and Cantonese opera gongs and drums. The "Bayin" teams appeared in the early stage of Qing Dynasty, which were professional folk music organizations. In Foshan, the streets Wenhuili and Changshengjie were famous “Bayin” streets. 
                                                      More>>
  

Foshan opera team in Dynasty: Phoenix Team, with leading performer Li Wenmao. Foshan opera teams in the period of the Republic of China: Dakangnian Opera Troupe(1925); Changong Opera Troupe(1925); Truth Opera Team (1920s-193030), with leading performers He Shaoxiong, Chen Feifei, Yi Choushui; Tianshangtian Opera Team (about 1938), with leading performers Lun Youwei, Sao Yunzhi, Chang Eying, Tan Bingyong; Shengping Opera Troupe(1939), with leading perfomers Ou Mufen, Peng Fengming, Wang Qianqiu, Qian Xiaoyun, Ming Juyang, Cen Qianyun.