She is the first female conductor of the symphony orchestra following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, and the first Chinese conductor to take the stage at a foreign opera house. Even at the age of 93, she continues to tell Chinese stories with music.

Born in Shanghai, Zheng Xiaoying began learning to play the piano at 6. She initially went to medical school, but finally decided to devote herself to a career in art. Since then, performances and music have become the most important things in her life.

In 1960, she pursued higher studies in opera, symphony and conducting at the National Moscow Conservatory of Music. Two years later, she conducted Giacomo Puccini's opera, Tosca, in Moscow, becoming the first Chinese conductor to have performed in an international opera house.

Zheng always worked towards letting more people appreciate the beauty of music.

At first, Chinese audiences could not understand the Western operas and symphonies because of cultural differences. Zheng noticed that the audience could not feel the charm of the opera when she performed the Western classical opera La Traviata in 1979. 

In order to change the situation, Zheng would give a lecture to the audience before the performance to help them understand the cultural background of the Western operas.

In the meantime, Zheng also dedicated herself to conveying the Chinese culture and stories to the world through music. She has conducted around 1,600 Chinese and foreign operas and symphonies in many world-class music halls in more than 20 countries and regions around the world over the past 15 years.

In 2007, Zheng brought "The Echoes of Hakka's Earth Buildings," an original Chinese music piece to tour France, Germany and Austria, which received a magnificent response from the audience.

Zheng herself is from a Hakka family. The ancestors of the Hakka people built the famous Fujian Tulou, also known as the earthen buildings. The houses are built in a circular or square pattern and designed for defense purposes and were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

She has been devoted to introducing classical music to Chinese audiences, by offering public lectures on campuses and numerous public venues. She never gave up her passion for performing, even in the face of many challenges.

In 1997, Zheng was diagnosed with rectal cancer when she was about to perform abroad. She went to the hospital for treatment during the day and gave lectures as scheduled at night. Zheng would even stand on the table and lead a students' chorus during the lecture on a whim. When she had to be admitted to the hospital, all she cared about was whether she could conduct again. "To spend my last seconds on the podium would be the most romantic thing in my life," said Zheng.

Although Zheng is 93 years old now, her life in art has never grown old and will continue to stir the hearts of everyone who has great enthusiasm for music just like her.