Liu Ruying poses for a photo after a performance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
During a five-minute video, Liu Ruying, 13, introduced Peking Opera in fluent English and performed several classic pieces.
Liu, a seventh-grade student at No 9 Middle School in Shizuishan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, has been interested in Peking Opera for much of her young life because of the influence of her grandfather, who is a fan.
At age 8, when she learned that a Peking Opera association was being organized at her primary school, she signed up and began to practice the classic art.
Liu Ruying poses for a photo with a Peking Opera actress after a performance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
It wasn't easy for a little girl to undergo the tough training, as performances combine martial arts, dancing and acrobatics.
"Sometimes I was tired," she said. "I had to balance my school studies and some other courses I was interested in, such as dance. But I never thought about giving it up because of its great charm. It attracted me deeply."
In 2020, to prepare for the China's Little Plum Blossom Opera Competition for children, Liu would rise at 6 am to practice singing every day. She received more than 20 hours of systematic training by teachers every week.
Liu Ruying performs Peking Opera. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Her hard work finally brought her the title Little Plum Blossom at the competition, which was held in November.
In January, when Liu got the news that the region would have a cultural exchange with other countries, with young students as culture ambassadors, she had the idea of introducing Peking Opera to the world in English.
With the help of her mother, who is an English teacher at a senior high school, she decided to participate in April after several months of practice.
"I love traditional Chinese culture very much, especially Peking Opera," she said in the video. "Peking Opera has a long history of about 200 years. It is considered a treasure of our Chinese nation."
"We should make great effort to carry forward our traditional cultures and uphold the cultural diversity of the world," she said.
Xue Rui contributed to the story.