The ancient Chinese liken the warble of an oriole to beautiful songs and melodies, hence the name. It was used to be a theater. Banquet were held here when opera was performed once. Now the hall is one of the most famous, time-honored restaurant in China, featuring imperial dishes and desserts.It is a must for many foreign visitors to have lunch here when they come to Beijing. More than one hundred heads of state worldwide have dined here and the late Premier Zhou Enlai has held banquets here in honor of state guests.