Spreading marvels

Hailing from a small town in Anhui, China, Li is the first in his family to pursue a career in the arts.

When he was 16 and still in high school, Li watched a video of the renowned Chinese magician Liu Qian (Lu Chen) in which he appeared to make a mobile phone pass through a sealed water bottle.

This act challenged Li's perception of reality and he asked himself: could magic truly exist in this world?

Propelled by strong curiosity, Li devoted countless hours to uncovering the secrets behind Liu's magic.

After six months of research, Li finally discovered the answers online. It was a pivotal moment for him as a magician.

"People experience a sense of awe when witnessing magic, but once they uncover its secret, the amazement turns into disappointment," Li said. "However, those who are destined to be magicians are different, instead of being disappointed, they are inspired to share the feeling of wonder with more people."

Since that moment, Li immersed himself in magic. He read magic books, searched online, and absorbed every bit of information he could find. He befriended magicians and sought guidance from them, and seized every opportunity to perform. He took part in magic competitions and started to win awards.

After graduating from university, he decided to perform magic full-time. His friends and family questioned his choice, but he refused to be swayed.

In 2017, he got a job at the Blackstone Magic Bar in Shanghai, performing three shows a day. During a three-year period, he entertained thousands, not all of whom were cooperative. Some ill-intentioned spectators even tried to spoil his performances deliberately.

But Li remained undaunted.