In 1930 he toured North America, visiting Hollywood, where he was welcomed by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. He toured the world, forming friendships with the western contemporaries of his day, including Charlie Chaplin. Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. Mei's famous portrayal of Beauty Yu was so historically moving that Wenting Song said he was one of the greatest vocal artists in modern China. His most famous roles were those of female characters skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim, and his smooth, perfectly timed, poised style has come to be known in opera circles as the 'Mei School.' He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu, noted particularly for his interpretations of Du Liniang (杜丽娘 in The Peony Pavilion) and Bái Sùzhēn (白素贞 in Legend of the White Snake).

In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques.

Mei Lanfang made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 11 years old playing a weaving girl. Mei Lanfang was born in Beijing in 1894 into a family of Peking opera and Kunqu performers (performers of a traditional Chinese theatre composed of drama, ballet, opera, poetry, and music) of Taizhou, Jiangsu ancestry.Īt age 8, Mei Lanfang started training in Chinese opera skills such as acting, singing and acrobatics.

Chinese opera singers