Peng Liyuan

Peng Liyuan (; born on November 20, 1962) is one of the top Chinese folk music singers, and a performer popularized by her regular appearances on the annual CCTV New Year's Gala, a widely viewed mainland Chinese television program that airs during Chinese New Year. She has obtained many honors in singing competitions nationwide.

Her most famous works include People from our Village (父老乡亲), Mount Chomolungma (珠穆朗玛) and On the Plains of Hope (在希望的田野上). Peng Liyuan is a civilian member of China's People's Liberation Army and currently holds the civilian rank comparable to that of a major general. She was one of the first in China to obtain a Master's degree in traditional ethnic music when the degree was first established in the 1980s. She is married to Xi Jinping who is the current member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the Vice President of the People's Republic of China.

Biography

Peng Liyuan is a native of Yuncheng County, Shandong. Peng joined the People's Liberation Army in 1980, when she was 18. She began as an ordinary soldier, although eventually with her vocal talent she began performing at PLA performances to boost troop morale. Peng first performed nationally and came to fame during the earliest rendition of the CCTV New Year's Gala in 1982, when she performed On the Plains of Hope.

She has been married to PRC Vice-President Xi Jinping for over 20 years; they have a daughter named Xi Mingze (习明泽)...
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