A heroic achievement

Yuju Opera, which originated and thrived in Central China's Henan province, is among the top five traditional opera genres in China. With a history dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Yuju Opera is known for its melodic singing, dazzling martial arts movements and stories, which are based on Chinese folk tales, especially those about brave heroes who are loyal, honest and patriotic.

Like Peking Opera, the characters of Yuju Opera, whether they are loyal or treacherous, good or bad, beautiful or ugly, all showcase their personalities through the vividly painted faces of the performers.

Li is known for playing heroes, from generals battling for the country, to noble-hearted intellectuals. One of his most well-known roles is Cheng Ying of The Orphan of Zhao, which is based on the classic Chinese tragedy by Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) playwright Ji Junxiang. The first Chinese tragedy to be translated into European languages, The Orphan of Zhao follows Cheng, who sacrifices his baby son to be replaced by the only survivor and heir of the persecuted Zhao family. Cheng then raises the child as his own, only to reveal the truth when the young man is grown up and ready to exact revenge.

In 2013, he performed the Yuju Opera piece in New York and at the Dolby Theater, Los Angeles, as part of a 29-country tour that also included shows in France, Turkey, Italy and Australia. So far, he has played the character more than 1,600 times worldwide.