Top: Wang Peiyu, a Peking Opera star who portrays men on stage, delivers a lecture in May at East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai. Above: Wang Peiyu performs in Sougujiugu, a traditional Peking Opera, at the Mei Lanfang Grand Theater in Beijing in December 2009.(Source: China Daily)

BEIJING, Sep. 9 (Xinhuanet) --There's a saying that a woman can never truly understand a man and vice versa. But Wang Peiyu is an exception.

The Peking Opera performer, who just turned 32, is known for her insightful portrayals of men in Chinese history and traditional dramas.

Her specialty is the lao sheng, or adult male.

"Some friends asked me if I became more manlike after playing those old male roles. I said 'somewhat'," said Wang, who has acquired fame for her exceptional vocal skills, gestures, facial expressions and insightful portrayal of characters since her debut at age 14.

Sporting an inch-long haircut, Wang reminds one of Li Yuchun, a popular Super Girl star whose gender neutral appearance has won over the country's young generation.

Yet, despite often being billed as the Super Girl of the Peking Opera world, Wang's focus is worlds away from the pop icons of the American Idol style talent show.

"I faithfully believe that Peking Opera has a huge market," Wang said. "The problem now is how to revive people's love of it."

Born and raised in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, Wang entered the Shanghai Academy of Drama at age 13, somewhat too old to start Peking Opera.

But her background included literature, calligraphy and traditional Chinese musical instruments, as well as pingtan, a traditional form of storytelling and ballad singing.