Sichuan Opera a draw as Chengdu 'goes global'

Lisa Bielby is the first foreigner in history known to have participated in a Sichuan Opera contest.

Born in Michigan of the US, Bielby started to study drama in her hometown when she was 13 years old.

When she came to Chengdu at the age of 24, she enrolled in the provincial Sichuan Opera School to learn the more orthodox skills of recitation, acting, singing and acrobatics.