Forgotten opera gem restored

Photo by Zou Hong /China Daily

Unlike many other young Chinese people, who adore stars from Japan and South Korea, Liu enjoys traditional Chinese culture, especially Peking Opera.

The two-floor theater, which is the only remaining wooden structure of the Qing Dynasty in Beijing, has hosted many Peking Opera masters performing since it was first built in 1667. Since its re-opening, the theater has served as the venue for the 100th production of the Mei Lanfang Classics, a six-part production by the eponymous Peking Opera master. The ongoing performance season will also see other Peking Opera productions along with Chinese folk music and modern dance.

The 36-year-old Liu will also perform at the experimental one-man Peking Opera show Cao Qi Qiao, inspired by Eileen Chang's novel The Golden Cangue.

"It has always been our aim to reignite the fame of the old theater. It should function like it did 300 years ago rather than become a museum," says Liu.

To prolong the theater's lifespan, Liu says that it should be used fewer than 250 days a year. "Therefore, we only bring the most valuable performances to the theater," he says.