Born in Guangxi, China, in 1984,Mei- Xiu Li saw her first acrobatic performance at the age of ten and knew immediately that she wished to pursue a career as an acrobat. Ironically, that summer when her family enrolled her in an acrobatic arts school, she ran away after only two days. It took three more tries before she found the courage to stay and dedicate herself to the intense training required. At the age of 14, (1998) while she was still at acrobatic school, Mei-Xiu was selected for the touring company of The Peking Acrobats. It was then that she came to the United States, where she trained in Los Angeles for the company's national and international tours, honing her skills as an acrobat, contortionist, tumbler and juggler. She toured with The Peking Acrobats for four years. When she was 16, Mei- Xiu Li was on tour with the troupe when she was spotted and asked to audition for The Cirque. She was hired on the spot and joined the cast of Tigron during a highly successful run in what became it's permanent home in San Francisco. It was during this time in her career when she was first spotted by Julien Moreau, attache to the French Embassy in Jakarta. He was vacationing in San Francisco when by chance he was given tickets to a performance of Tigron. He was so struck by the exquisite beauty and talent of the young Mei- Xiu Li, that he returned every night for the entire two weeks he was visiting. When it was time for him to return to Jakarta, he made a fateful decision to be transferred to San Francisco and thus began his fervent campaign to engage the young acrobat's attention and eventually her love.