Inspired by Jackie Chan films, 37-year-old uses physical comedy to bring cultural exchanges to the stage, Cheng Yuezhu reports.

Peking Opera has been a game changer for Swedish actor Timothy Pilotti, which led him to China and shaped his passion for cultural exchanges.

The connection between the 37-year-old actor and Peking Opera began with a childhood love for films starring Jackie Chan, who studied Peking Opera when he was young.

"His films blended a lot of acrobatics, rhythm and comedy into the fight scenes. It's not just about defeating someone — it's about telling a story and creatively fighting," Pilotti says.

Unlike kung fu, which is primarily a martial art, Peking Opera caught his attention as a theatrical form designed for the stage with a unique, stylized approach to movement and combat.

Pilotti decided to become an actor at an early age, studying at acting schools and majoring in physical theater at a Finnish university.