LI HENGCHANG, who was diagnosed with autism at the tender age of 8, has evolved into a dynamic and multifaceted young adult. After dedicating years of toil, the 19-year-old on the autism spectrum has exhibited an exceptional aptitude for music. Last year, Li graduated from the Music School Attached to Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou. He returned to Shenzhen and began performing piano pieces at hospitals for charity, according to the Daily Sunshine. Piano sound in hospitals After settling down on the piano bench, without any practice, Li was seen putting his fingers on the keyboard and began performing a Chinese song titled “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon” at the outpatient hall of the Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University in Bao’an District. His performance immediately attracted people at the hospital to gather and listen. After all, it is not very common to enjoy a live piano performance in a hospital. Beside the piano bench, there was a board displaying Li’s personal profile. It says that Li is an autistic youth and has won many prizes at piano competitions held at home and board. So far, he has successfully held his personal recitals and participated in many charity performances in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. In fact, Li has been persistent in playing piano pieces at hospitals for several years, in Guangzhou at first. After returning to Shenzhen, Li first had a charity performance at the Shenzhen Children’s Hospital. Later, he played the piano at the Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University and Shenzhen University General Hospital. Although each time it took about one to two hours for Li to arrive in the hospital from his home in Longgang District, Li never felt exhausted from the long travel. Li’s mother said Li’s performances were especially adored at the children’s hospital. His performance normally lasts for an hour. However, he never rests midway and didn’t even bother to take a sip of water. “He’s used to it,” Li’s mother said. Autism patients are dubbed by some as “children of the stars,” because they are always immersed in their own world, possessing a different mindset from other people. Li showed a great talent for music. In 2019, Li held his first recital in the Guangzhou Opera House. Li’s recitals have been held four times in Guangzhou and once in Shenzhen. Versatile youth At present, there are more than 13 million autistic patients in China, with an annual growth rate of nearly 200,000, and the incidence of autism has accounted the most out of all kinds of mental disabilities, according to a national survey on people with disabilities. Many families with autistic children chose to “lie flat” out of challenges such as exhaustion, family difficulties, and little hopes. It is really rare to see an autistic youth like Li who has mastered a skill. The 19-year-old can also play the accordion, cucurbit flute (or hulusi), drum, and African drum. Music has unlocked Li’s potential. Nevertheless, Li’s success and talent in piano cannot be achieved without Li’s hard work. Running, a hobby Li runs with his father two or three times a week, each time covering distances ranging from 5 to over 10 kilometers. Li Yonglyu, Li’s father, is a long-distance runner who often runs marathons. When his son was around 12 years old, he began to run with him. “When he was running, I felt that he was free and relaxed, and he was very happy,” the father said. In order for Li to get closer to nature and enjoy a friendlier running environment, his father moved from their previous home in Futian to the Buji area in Longgang District, which is surrounded by a countryside park. Li Hengchang will attend the 2023 Shenzhen Nanshan Half Marathon at the end of this month, and this will be his second time to participate in the Nanshan Half Marathon. Last year, he finished in 2 hours and 37 minutes. Li’s father believed that this year, his son can finish the game within 2 hours and 10 minutes. (Wang Jingli) | 