Zhou Xinfang

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Zhou Xinfang, (Traditional Chinese:周信芳, Simplified Chinese:周信芳, January 28, 1895 – March 5, 1975), was a famous Beijing Opera actor who died in the Cultural Revolution. He is regarded as one of the greatest masters of Beijing Opera. Michael Chow is his son.

Zhou, a native of Cixi, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, was born in Qingjiangpu, north Jiangsu in 1895, in a family with a tradition of opera performance. He started to learn Beijing opera at 6, and made his debut as child role in Hangzhou at age of 7, thus acquiring a stage name "Qi Ling Tong" or "seven-year-old child".