"In her musical world, she shows her unlimited imagination, just like the Monkey King's magical power, making 72 changes to his shape and size, turning himself into different animals and objects."

Born in Beijing, Liu learned to play the piano as a child. In 1978, she and her classmates, including Tan Dun, Chen Qigang and Guo Wenjing, were among the first group of students to be admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music after the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). They've also become the first generation of Chinese composers to enjoy recognition among Western audiences.

In 1985, she achieved fame with her novella Ni Bie Wu Xuan Ze (You Have No Choice), depicting a group of highly gifted, but frustrated music students.

In 1987, she visited the United States, where she met and worked with jazz and blues musicians. Later, she lived in London, before moving to New York in 1993.

One of her best-known albums, Blues in the East, was released in 1995. It was her debut album, which saw her collaborate with top jazz and blues musicians in New York, such as Bill Laswell, Henry Threadgill and Umar Bin Hassan. Liu's follow-up album, China Collage, in 1996, saw her compose for pipa and voice.