Zhao Yanxia [People.com.cn]

Zhao Yanxia, 90, the only surviving founder of a school of Peking Opera, has performed on stage for 85 years.
Zhao, the founder of Zhao School, is also an inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage. She learned basic performing skills from her father Zhao Xiaolou when she was young, and then became an apprentice of Xun Huisheng, a national-level Peking Opera master. She disciplined herself with high standards and later founded the Yan Ming Opera Troupe.
In 1960, she entered the Beijing Opera Theatre and carried forward the traditional Chinese art through cooperation with several outstanding maestros.
During the 15 years from 1949 to 1964, Zhao was one of only a few actors who made the highest box office earnings.
As an outstanding artist, she can perform different female roles. On the basis of retaining her teacher's acting styles, Zhao created her own skills such as having a sweet voice, melodious tune and articulate narration.
There are many "first" titles for her, including the first actor to perform the modern opera The White-haired Girl, the only and youngest woman of the former generation of opera artists, the first woman to lead a troupe abroad and earn U.S. $250,000 in three months, and the first woman to lead an opera troupe to tour the country.
In order to commemorate her 90th birthday, Beijing Opera Theatre held Celebrating Zhao's 90th Birthday & 85-year Stage Performance Career activity from April 10 to 16, sponsored by Beijing Opera Art Development Fund.
"This is a good age to learn opera and carry it forward. The younger generation should grasp this chance and study hard to spread Chinese culture to the world," Zhao said, when she was asked her thoughts on this activity.