Peking Opera reached its zenith in the first half of the 20th century, when performers mastered acting and singing skills, and their fan base grew rapidly across the country. Mei-arguably the biggest Peking Opera star in modern history-not only achieved great success at home, but also enjoyed a worldwide following. He went on tour to the United States in 1930 with shows that were sold out.

"It is true that Peking Opera is all about individual stars. These stars win over audiences with their unique performances and can pass down their styles by taking on apprentices," Tian says. "That is why the company works very hard to train and support young actors, who are the future of this art form."

Born in Zibo, Shandong province, Tian grew up in a traditional Chinese opera environment. His grandfather composed works for Lyuju Opera while his father played musical instruments in the troupe.

With a history dating back to more than 100 years ago, Lyuju is considered as Shandong's best-known local opera and ranks among the eight main regional operas of China. In 2008, it was also listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

As a child, Tian learned to play various musical instruments. At 10, he went to Shanghai to study Peking Opera. He recalls that he never planned to work as an actor, even though he was drawn to the opera genre because it extols social values such as loyalty, honesty and integrity.