Mei Lanfang (1894-1961) was an legendary Beijing Opera figure whose career began at the age of eight and spanned fifty years until his death. During his lifetime, Mei performed over 100 different roles in the traditional Beijing Opera repertoire as a dan, or traditional female impersonator. Mei's range and incredible artistry won him a large following, both in China and abroad. This book features stunning photographs from some of Mei's most famous roles and a rare set of illustrations from the scrolls that Mei commissioned especially for his 1930 U.S. tour.