The representatives of these four schools are Mei Lanfang, Cheng, Xun Huisheng and Shang Xiaoyun. Also known as "four famous Dan".

Mei Pai: Founded by Mei Lanfang. Mei Lanfang pursued the highest realm of art after graduation, and created a large number of ancient female images with kindness, gentleness, luxury, elegance and a sense of justice with her own performances. Mei Lanfang (1894- 196 1), born in a Beijing opera family, studied opera at the age of 8, and took the stage at the age of 1 1. She is good at Tsing Yi and also plays Beijing opera blues. Mei Lanfang has created and developed Dan Jiao's singing, recitation, dance, music, clothing and makeup in more than 50 years of stage practice, and has formed a unique artistic style, which is known as Mei School. He has a deep foundation, both civil and military; The typhoon is beautiful, very beautiful; Her mellow voice and charming singing style have created a large number of typical images of ancient women with different postures. The representative works of Mei School include Cosmic Front, Drunken Princess, Broken Bridge, Strange Double Meeting, Farewell My Concubine, Mu and so on. Mei Lanfang has led Beijing Opera Troupe to Japan, the United States and the Soviet Union for many times. He is an internationally renowned opera singer who has spread China's operas abroad.

Cheng School: founded by Cheng. It mainly expresses ancient women with deep and tortuous vocals and demure and dignified stage images, and is especially good at shaping middle-and lower-class women who are miserable and soft outside and rigid inside. Cheng (1904— 1958), who studied drama since childhood, played Tsing Yi and studied under Mei Lanfang. He is brave in artistic innovation, pays attention to phonology and four tones, and pursues a high combination of "sound, emotion, beauty and water". According to his own voice characteristics, he created a kind of vocal style with soft throat, ups and downs, intermittent rhythm and varied changes, and formed a unique artistic style, which was called "Cheng School" internationally. Cheng is good at performing tragedies, and his plays such as Yuanyang Tomb, Tears on the Barren Mountain, Green Frost Sword and Anti-Marriage between Yingtai and Yuan mostly show the tragic fate of women in feudal society.

Xun School: founded by Xun Huisheng. She is good at creating innocent, lively and enthusiastic girl images, and her style is gentle and charming. Xun Huisheng (1900 ——1968) studied art in Hebei Bangzi class when he was a child. At the age of19, he changed to Beijing Opera, playing Hua Dan and Beijing Opera Blues. He has a profound foundation, and can combine the advantages of Bangzi Opera and Hua Dan's performance in one furnace, forming a unique artistic style, and is known as "Xun School" in the world. He is good at playing innocent, lively and gentle female roles, and is famous for his plays such as Matchmaker, Golden Jade Slave, Dream of Red Mansions, Hairpin Phoenix and Looking for an Official Mother.

Shang School: founded by Shang Xiaoyun. Taking vigorous and graceful as a unique style, singing, reading, doing and playing are not slim, winning with gas and strength, with masculine beauty. Shang Xiaoyun, a young student (1900— 1976), aged 14, was awarded the title of "the first child musician". Start to learn martial arts, then correct Dan and play Beijing opera blues. He has a deep foundation, a broad and bright voice, and his singing skills are famous for his strength. He is known as the "Shang School" internationally. Representative works include Two Entering the Palace, Sacrifice Tower, Zhaojun Dike, Liang Hongyu and so on. They created many heroines and chivalrous women.