Zhao Yanxia, a renowned Peking opera artist, died from an illness at the age of 97 in Beijing on Wednesday, according to the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing.

Born into a Peking opera family in Beijing, she began training and performing at the age of 7 under her father. Her early exposure to theater cultivated her exceptional vocal agility, expressive physicality and profound emotional depth, which became hallmarks of her performances.

Zhao excelled in a diverse range of roles, from virtuous heroines to spirited young women. Her voice, characterized by crystalline clarity and nuanced phrasing, combined with precise choreography, brought an unmatched vitality to the stage. She left the theater in 1996, but her pioneering contributions to the Zhao School of Peking Opera are remembered.