Breathing new life into a centuries-old art form was a challenge to audiences' existing sets of rules and traditional aesthetics, even for Shi, known as 'the first lady of Chinese opera.'

Shi plays both roles and is also the producer of the show that was especially popular among younger audiences when it premiered in 2019. The other is a vibrant innkeeper in a remote desert who falls in love at first sight when the warrior's lover steps into the inn, and tries to seduce him. The show has two lead female roles, neither fitting the traditional opera form's 'verdant robe.' One is a righteous female warrior disguised as a man and fighting alongside her lover to save two orphans. 'I miss practicing martial arts, I'm sort of 'tomboyish' when off stage,' said the 49-year-old diva, excited about her upcoming rerun of 'New Dragon Gate Inn,' a Peking Opera version of Tsui Hark's 1992 martial arts movie.

Traits of nearly 40 years of training and performance are obvious when Shi exquisitely holds her coffee cup and talks with Shanghai Daily, but her opening words are somewhat of a surprise. Chic Sister Shi holds her coffee cup and talks with Shanghai Daily.

Roles and characters of peking opera