It’s Wang Youxi’s dream to perform Peking Opera with full makeup, accessories and costumes. [Photo by Wang Xiwei]

On Jan 30, a Sunday, while most children her age were enjoying a holiday, Wang Youxi, a fifth grader from Chengdu Experimental Primary School, in Sichuan, took her first steps in her bid to study Peking Opera.

Wang has limited options to pursue her studies of Peking Opera in Sichuan as the province is the birthplace of Chuan Opera. So, as part of the process of finding a teacher, Wang had to take part in a public performance at the Workers Cultural Palace in Chengdu, which was quite a challenge for child. Waking up at 7 am, she arrived at the palace around 10 am. After her makeup was completed, she suddenly began to suffer a splitting headache and started vomiting repeatedly. She finally managed to complete her performance with her hair disheveled. But this experience only made the young girl stronger and boosted her fighting spirit. The next day, again wearing full makeup and in good state she stood first among the other performers. The organizers of the event rewarded her with a doll and she left satisfied, grinning from ear to ear. But although she made a great debut, it does not necessarily mean a smooth sailing.