In his transition from performing as a wusheng (martial male) in Kunqu Opera to playing a nandan (young male in the female role) in Peking Opera, Liu, 36, faced his first challenge — breaking away from the stylized performances typical of traditional Chinese opera.

Kunqu Opera and Peking Opera are both influential forms of traditional Chinese theater, but they differ significantly in style, performance techniques, history, and regional influence. Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest and most refined forms of Chinese opera, known for its delicate and lyrical musical style. Peking Opera, or jingju, features more energetic, fast-paced music often involving thrilling action scenes and large-scale spectacles.