Opera teaches culture for student from Cameroon

"I came to learn Chinese martial arts but it was the opera that attracted me in the end," he said.

By coincidence, Liu watched a Yuju Opera called Huamulan, named for a legendary Chinese heroine, five years ago and he fell deeply in love with the sonorous and infectious play and its music.

Originating in Henan province, Yuju Opera is one of the country's major opera types.

"It's not only a kind of play with music. I felt closer to Chinese culture by learning and playing it," Liu said.