[1] In 1946, he was received by Zhou Enlai, who would later become the Premier of China, together with Yue opera star Yuan Xuefen and actress Yu Ling.
In 1948, Liu joined Yuan's Xuesheng Troupe (雪声剧团), where he directed the Yue operas The Great Wall and Li Shishi, among others.
[1] After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Liu worked for the Cultural Bureau of the Shanghai Municipal Government.
Working under Zhou Xinfang, he promoted the reform of traditional Chinese operas and helped establish the Shanghai Pingtan Troupe in 1951.
In 1983, he co-founded the Plum Blossom Award for outstanding theatre and opera performers and served as a judge for many years.