Another great achievement of Niu Zihou is the founding of the "Xiliancheng" Peking Opera Class, which has trained a large number of Peking Opera masters and performing artists such as Mei Lanfang, Zhou Xinfang, and Ma Lianliang, and has contributed to the inheritance and development of Peking Opera in China. Made a huge contribution.
Due to his wealthy family, Niu Zihou also has a variety of hobbies. He is good at photography, gardening, clock repair, medical treatment, divination, fortune-telling, horoscopes, etc. He especially likes opera, and is particularly fond of Peking opera. In his daily life, in addition to doing business, in his spare time, he often takes photos, develops photos, grafts fruit trees, and treats people. On May 8, 1911 (the third year of Xuantong), a fire broke out in Jilin City, burning down most of the bustling streets and government offices, and destroying more than 2,400 private houses. It was he who took precious photos with his own camera, recording the tragic scene of blazing fires and rubble, so that we can today witness the scenes of collapsed houses and dilapidated streets. He also often plays the string instrument, and is proficient in all the flutes and flutes. Because his mother loved to watch shadow puppet shows, he rushed home to prepare for a celebration hall. At that time, Jilin, which was "located on the border", had no big plays to watch, so in 1901 (the 27th year of Guangxu's reign), through Peking opera artist Ye Chunshan, he invited Beijing's "Four Happiness Troupe" came to Jilin's "Kangle Tea Garden" to perform. In the process of interacting and performing, through observation and understanding, he learned that Ye Chunshan was sincere and conscientious, and was proficient in the roles of Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo and Ugly in Peking Opera. As a result, he was greatly appreciated and trusted by Niu Zihou. Furthermore, Niu Zihou proposed to Ye Chunshan: Ask Ye to open a Peking Opera class, led by Mr. Ye, funded by the Niu family, and performed alternately in Beijing and Jilin. This can not only solve the Niu family's problem of watching operas, but also cultivate people for Peking Opera. A group of talents. Ye was very cautious about this, fearing that he would disappoint Niu Zihou's kindness, so after repeated evasion, he finally agreed. As the two imperialist countries, Japan and Russia, were brewing war in the Northeast and the situation was tense, in 1903 (the 29th year of Guangxu) Niu Zihou sent the troupe performing in Jiji back to Beijing. Before leaving, Niu Zihou once again asked Ye to return to Beijing and recruit a few students to try. In 1904 (the 30th year of Guangxu), Ye Chunshan recruited six students in his home. In 1905 (the 31st year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), he recruited a dozen more students and rented a small courtyard nearby to practice martial arts and learn opera. Niu Zihou allocated 280 taels of silver as funding for the opening of the class. According to Niu Zihou's instructions, he rented a house at No. 7 of the Qian Iron Factory outside Xuanwumen. The Ye family also moved into it and recruited some more students. Therefore, the drama class was officially named "Xiliancheng Class" after each of Niu Zihou's three sons' nicknames (Niu Xigui, Niu Liangui, Niu Chenggui), and the case was filed with the Jingzhong Temple of Dongda Temple in Beijing (During the Qing Dynasty) Li Yuan Xing (an organization that speaks justice to Liyuanxing) recruited a group of students and hired famous Peking opera teachers such as Xiao Changhua, Su Yuqing, Song Qishan, and Tang Zongcheng to teach in different subjects. Later, due to the success of the "Xiliancheng" class, Niu Zihou sent someone to manage the finances of the class, added costumes and props, and hired 13 more famous Peking opera masters as teachers. In 1912, due to family disputes, Niu Zihou had no time to take care of the "Xiliancheng" class, so he handed over the class to Ye Chunshan for management. At this time, the Niu family and the Ye family were already married. Niu Zihou and Ye Chunshan became "brother-in-law" ("Lianqiao" in Northeastern dialect). Later, Mr. Ye cooperated with the wealthy Shen Yukun, and Mr. Shen invested in the class. With Niu Zihou's consent, it was renamed "Fu Liancheng" class. From 1904 (the 30th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu) to 1944, this class enrolled 12 classes and trained more than 700 Peking Opera students. Because the students who studied in this class received formal professional education, many of them became "famous actors" in the Peking Opera world in the future, and some were famous all over the country and around the world. For example, Mei Lanfang, whose original name was Mei Xiqun, was later renamed Lanfang. Zhou Xinfang, Ma Lianliang, etc. were all students who learned from this class.
Niu Zihou devoted all his efforts to cultivating Peking Opera talents, and the Liyuan disciples also responded kindly to him. In 1934, Niu Zihou, whose family was in decline, moved to Beijing. Celebrities in the Peking Opera world, such as Mei Lanfang and Xiao Changhua, initiated the opera world to give a charity performance to Mr. Niu for three days. They used the income from the performance to buy a courtyard house with 14 rooms in Xiheyan Hutong outside Xuanwumen, Beijing, for Niu Zihou, and spent 1,500 yuan. Yin Dayang bought a fragrant wood coffin.
Niu Zihou’s contribution to the cause of Peking Opera has left a precious page in the history of Chinese drama.
Niu Zihou died of illness in Beijing in 1943 at the age of 77, and was later buried in Jilin City