江苏留学网

Yang Xuechao excels at playing female characters in Peking Opera. [Photo/IC]

"Peking Opera is more than just a source of entertainment for me, it has become an inseparable part of my life," said Yang Xuechao, a second-year student at Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang, East China. He has been pursuing the art for almost 20 years. 

Now vice director of the university's opera troupe and enjoying unanimous support from his schoolmates and teachers, Yang said he trained in the art despite strong opposition from his parents. 

"Their opposition peaked during my middle school days. They thought Peking Opera would distract me from learning, and the female characters I was good at playing left them particularly vexed," Yang said. 

"They forbid me from learning Peking Opera, but by then the seed had already been planted." 

From then on, Yang had to learn Peking Opera in secret. 

After six years of effort he was admitted to Jiangsu University, where his operatic talents were recognized by his teachers and schoolmates. 

"I give my best performances when I’m in my emotional ups and downs. I don't know why I love Peking Opera so much. All I know is that the art has helped me find myself and brought me inner peace," Yang said.