China has lost another Peking-Opera master, Li Shiji, who died Sunday night in Beijing at the age of 83. 

Peking Opera master Li Shiji dies at 83

Born in Suzhou in 1933, Li was the adopted daughter of Cheng Yanqiu, one of the most respected Chinese peking opera artists of the 20th century, and Li was an exemplar of the "Cheng School" of Peking Opera. She played leading roles in such classics as "Wenji's Captivity and Return" and "The Lucky Purse". She was also known as an innovator who incorporated pop vocal techniques into the art form. 

Over the past several decades, Li witnessed the ups and downs of the artform. Combining singing, dancing, and martial arts, Peking Opera is one of the most influential art forms in China, with a history of more than 200 years.