Decades after he passed away, Mei Lanfang has been enshrined as the iconic performer of Peking Opera for his lifelike portrayal of female roles. A contest in east China city of Taizhou (泰州) is looking for people who can imitate the master's style of singing and acting. The competition not only pays tribute to the great performer, but also seeks to unearth new talent in the field.

The finals of the contest were held over the weekend in the master's home city, with 29 contestants battling it out to simulate Mei Lanfang in every way. The participants are all amateur performers and die-hard fans of Peking Opera. Decades after he passed away, Mei Lanfang has been enshrined as the iconic performer of Peking Opera for his lifelike portrayal of female roles.