Yu Xuefeng is competing in the annual Wuzhen Theater Festival's "Emerging Theater Artists Competition" for the second time.

With his full job as a wedding planner, and a 10-year-old daughter to look after, Yu has to go the extra mile to pursue his passion.

"I have to work to make a living and I need to accompany my family. It can sometimes be tricky to balance my time and my way is to divide my time for each part," Yu said.

Yu's work wasn't selected for the competition the previous year, so for the entire year, he quietly worked on the next competition.

"When the email was sent to me, it read 'Dear contestants,' I thought I'd missed out again and didn't open it fully. Later I did and saw I'd been shortlisted, I was so excited. I secretly cried a few times. It has been especially hard during the past few years because of the small number of performance venues and few actors, my actors for this play have changed three times," Yu said.

The competition is open to Chinese applicants aged 35 and under, or those presenting their theatrical skills for the first time.

Yu is 34 years old and has occasionally had his decision to continue pursuing his love of theater questioned. For example, "as a 34-year-old, do you feel that you are not focused enough on your main job? Do you think the theater's path, which makes little money, is the right one? 

The work Yu brought is called "Stretch," which reflects everyday struggles in people's life. It talks about forces holding back people, which people want to escape, but it is always within range.

After four rounds of competition in ten days, their efforts paid off. Yu's team was one of the top six, and they also received high recognition and support from the audience.

"Many from the audience came to me and asked us when we will perform. I'm happy to see they recognize and like us. My psychological state has changed, I am more determined about what play I want to do in the future, this is my biggest gain," Yu described.

The path to success is long and sometimes fraught with difficulties. But it also gives life to stories, and Yu's story is one, that continues to grow and inspire.