China Scene: West

In a flash, matronly old woman becomes monkey

Yu Jian, 79, a white-haired old woman in Yinchuan, capital of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, is able to perfectly mimic the motions of a monkey while performing Beijing Opera.

Yu started to learn Beijing Opera when she was seven and gave her first performance at the age of 10. Over the past 60 years, she has performed in more than 60 operas. She is the only female actress to have played the part of the Monkey King.