Xiong Linghao, a visually impaired girl from Mianyang city in Sichuan province impressed the judges and the viewers by playing a piano sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven at the national final of the ongoing Shanghai International Youth Piano Competition.

The girl, who lost eyesight in childhood due to a medical accident, began learning piano at the age of 6 and passed the top grade piano test for amateurs at age 12.

Xiong, now 18, said she totally relies on hearing whenever she learns a new piece. She listens and then puts what she hears to her fingers.

"Very often I practice six to eight hours every day because I need repeated muscle memory to find the right keys," Xiong said.

Xiong, who will be a second-grade student in senior high school in September, called piano her passion. She said she aspires to be admitted to a university in Beijing and major in music performance or music production.