Chen Lijun, a 31-year-old Yue opera performer, captivated millions with her cross-gender role in the opera New Dragon Inn, where she portrayed Jia Ting, a handsome court eunuch.
In October, a 30-second clip of the play’s curtain call went viral, in which Chen playfully takes her co-star by the hand and starts spinning around together.
Chen’s charm, talent and affectionate chemistry with the cast won over China’s internet. In a short video posted to Douyin (China’s TikTok) on October 30, Chen expressed her gratitude for her followers’ support, saying that she is “like a small cobblestone” on the road of art and hopes she can expose more people to Yue opera. The video received two million likes.
Born and raised in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, the birthplace of Yue opera, Chen began studying the art form at 13. With her tall stature and radiant presence, her teachers convinced her to pursue Xiaosheng roles, or young male characters. The 30-second viral video is a testament to her years of dedication, practice and performance in the art. Chen now boasts 1.75 million followers on Douyin, with many expressing gratitude for helping them appreciate the beauty of Yue opera.
Known for its enchanting melodies, poetic lyrics, captivating sets staging and the tradition of women playing men’s roles, Yue opera is China’s second-most influential opera after Peking opera. Through their tireless dedication, Chen and her fellow artists are bringing new life and audiences to this ancient art form.
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