Liu Lanfang is performing a Pingshu program

Liu Lanfang, an outstanding female Pingshu (popular tales) artist, was born on January 11, 1944, in Liaoyang, Liaoning Province, in a Manchu family of artists on her mother's side. She formally learned to sing Xihe Dagu from a teacher at the age of 14. The following year, she joined the Anshan Quyi Troupe. While practicing Xihe Dagu, she also learned Northeast Dagu for a time. In 1972, she took up Pingshu and made a name for herself with her program using the full-length script of The Story of Yue Fei. Liu is now a national performing artist and a top-grade actress.

The Story of Yue Fei is based on the traditional full-length script titled Loyal and Devoted Yue Fei, and in collaboration with her husband, Wang Yinquan. This became her present program, centering on the moving heroic exploits of the famous patriotic general of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) national hero Yue Fei in his battles against the Jin Dynasty armies. As the original script contained much superstitious and feudal rubbish, Liu made bold cuts and edited it to retell the old tale with a fresh approach.

Liu Lanfang has a sonorous voice and vigor and is well suited for telling heroic stories. Her performances always give the audience a wonderful feeling, as if they were listening to music. All this makes Liu an innovative and unique Pingshu performer.

Liu Lanfang was invited to places such as the Soviet Union, Korea, Thailand, Turkey, England, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan for several times for art exchanges. Her representative works include The Story of Yue Fei and Generals of the Yang Family.