Due to the Cultural Revolution, studies suspended and sent to work in the countryside, first on farms in Shanxi province and later as a laborer in a spinning mill

Assigned to work in the Guangxi Film Studio

Debut as feature cinematographer, "One and Eight"

Transferred to the pioneering Xi'an Film Studio

Feature film directing debut, "Red Sorghum"

Directed the internationally acclaimed "Raise the Red Latern"

Won award at Cannes for "To Live"

Debut as opera director with production of "Turandot" at the Teatro Comunale in Florence, Italy; reportedly the first Chinese director of an Italian opera production

Helmed the comedy "Keep Cool"

Earned critical praise for "Not One Less", a look at contemporary China as seen through the story of a young schoolteacher and an unruly student; screened at Venice; set to be released theatrically in the USA in 2000

"The Road Home", a drama about a woman recalling her courtship with her now deceased husband, screened at Sundance

Directed "Hero",starring Jet Li and Maggie Cheung; received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film

Directed Ziyi Zhang in "House of Flying Daggers"

Directed Gong Li in the historical drama, "Curse of the Golden Flower"; also scripted