◎Cheng Zhaocai

Cheng Zhaocai (1874-1929) was born into a poor peasant family in Luannan County on December 20, 1874. Cheng Zhaocai was a screenwriter, director, and actor. His plays are bold, unrestrained, complex and flexible. Lambasting the shortcomings of the times, they aroused the resonance of the audience. His masterpieces were frequently performed on the stage. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, some of the plays were also put on the screen, being popular among the audience. As celebrated Peking Opera singer Mei Lanfang said, “The popularity of Ping Opera today is inseparable from the hard work of Mr. Cheng. The predecessors who were loyal to art and had creative achievements like Mr. Cheng are worthy of respect and commemoration.” To remember Cheng Zhaocai, the Tangshan City Government and Luannan County People's Government built the Cheng Zhaocai Memorial Hall in Bencheng Town, Lunnan County in Tangshan. Gao Zhanxiang, former Vice Minister of Culture, personally wrote a plaque for the memorial hall. The epitaph in front of Cheng Zhaocai's tomb describes his achievements throughout his life.(https://www.daowen.com)