"Were there no reform and opening-up, the song would not have been so popular, and I would not have become what I am today," Li said.

One year after the debut of "Xianglian" in the 1983 Spring Festival gala, Li performed another song "Nanwangjinxiao (Unforgettable Tonight)" at the 1984 TV gala, which also became a hit.

The popularity of the latter song even made it a repertoire of the annual celebration for Chinese New Year in the following decades -- having been sung in 32 of the total 35 galas ever since.

Over the years, Li has been working to carry forward and develop the art of Chinese vocal music.

She has been exploring ways to combine the traditional Chinese singing style with Western-style vocal music techniques and to integrate elements of traditional Chinese operas with pop music genres.

Earlier this month at a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, Li was among 100 Chinese to receive medals of reform pioneers for their outstanding contributions to the cause.

"In front of us, there is always a height of art, which requires us to pursue, explore and make innovations for a lifetime. By doing so we can better serve the time and the people," she said.

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