Bai Yushuang

Li Guizhen (Chinese: , p Lǐ Guìzhēn; 1907–1942), better known by her stage name Bai Yushuang (, p Bái Yùshuāng, lit "White Jade Frost"), was a Chinese Ping Opera singer and actress. She was one of "The Four Famous Dans" (, Sì Dàmíng Dàn) and remains known as the "Queen of Pingju" (t , s , Píngjù Huánghòu).

Li Guizhen was born in Guye, Luan County, Hebei. As a child, she was sold to the wandering entertainer Li Jingchun and his wife Mrs Bian, who renamed her Li Huimin (, Lǐ Huìmǐn). Her status within the family was reduced when Mrs Bian gave birth to a son, Li Guozhang. She was then forced to earn money on the street by singing stories accompanied by a small drum or other instrument. At fourteen, she began learning pingju from Dong Faliang, taking supporting roles under the stage name "Bai Yushuang". She became celebrated in Beiping (now Beijing) and Tianjin for her extreme range, from very high notes to lower than lowest note of the erhu. Upon Li Jingchun's death, his widow Mrs Bian purchased more girls from poor families. The 4-year-old Xiaodezi was renamed Fuzi and instructed to refer to Li Guizhen as her mother.

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