Liu Chenyan looks on as her teacher helps her put on the headdresses before a show in her school in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, October 26, 2009. Nine-year-old Liu Chenyan is an amateur performer of Peking Opera and a star in her school - Nanjing Chengxianjie Primary School. Gifted in singing and dancing, she was chosen to play the leading role of "Celestial Beauty Scatters Flowers" by the school Peking Opera troupe. "It's quite a challenge for a little girl to learn "Celestial Beauty Scatters Flowers," said Wang Shanping, Liu's teacher who is a state first-class actress of Peking Opera. "Performing with a 12-meter-long ribbon is even more challenging." But Liu practises a lot. She attends an hour-long class after school every Wednesday and Friday, and spends extra time on Saturdays to learn from Wang Shanping. After years of learning and practice, Liu has made big progress in singing and acting. Liu is now a famous little "celestial beauty" in school. In April 2009, Liu won the prize of "Best Junior Amateur Performer of Peking Opera" in Jiangsu selection contest of a national competition. When asked about her future, Liu said "No matter what I do, Peking Opera is something I'll never give up." [Xinhua]

Liu Chenyan practises before a show in her school in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, October 26, 2009. [Xinhua]