Speaking about the role, Guo says: "Unlike the roles I played earlier, such as brave female warriors and pampered princess, the Gui role is challenging.

Young actress Fu Jia, who has been training with veteran Peking Opera actress Du Jinfang for three years, plays Xie Yaohuan in the classic Peking Opera piece of the same title.

The opera is based on the story of a female official named Xie Yaohuan from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) who served Empress Wu Zetian.

The Xie Yaoyuan role is the third one Fu is learning from Du, who has done these female roles earlier.

Song says that to popularize Peking Opera among the young, the China National Peking Opera Company will do about 140 shows at primary schools in Beijing.

And the company also plans to turn Peking Opera pieces into cartoon films besides offering training to students across the country.