Wang Yuanyuan

BEIBEI, a 25-year-old autistic pianist, celebrated Mother’s Day yesterday with a yacht cruise off the coast of Dameisha, Yantian District.

Beibei, who won a gold prize at the 2008 International Cultural Art Festival in March in Shenzhen, was the oldest of a group of autistic youths onboard the cruise organized by the Shenzhen Autism Society (SAS) and Shenzhen Blue Ocean Conservation Association (BOCA).

“Beibei is very happy to see such beautiful sea view today as this is the first time he has been on a yacht. He sang songs to everyone on the yacht and kept smiling all the time. This is one of the most happy Mother’s Days for me and Beibei,” said Sun Lili, Beibei’s mother.

Beibei was confirmed to be suffering from autism when he was 5 and began learning the piano at the age of 20, according to Shou Hong, Beibei’s father. “It is such a wonderful thing to find out he has got the talent to play the piano and be able to win several prizes in just five years’ time,” said Shou.

“It is very difficult for him to practice to play the piano as he cannot communicate with teachers and can not remember what teachers say during the class. I have to repeat and teach him many times when he is practicing. But he likes piano and most of the time he plays five or six hours a day,” Sun said.

“The most important thing for me is to teach him to keep on playing the piano. We joined volunteer associations and disabled associations and he has done several charity performances for them. He likes to do it and we are also very pleased that he has more opportunities to communicate with other people,” Sun said.

Beibei, who lives in Nanshan District with his parents, has won two gold prizes and one silver prize in national piano competitions. He has achieved Grade 8 in piano, and is going to take the test for Grade 10, which is the highest, in June this year.

Seven autistic children, aged between 9 and 14, were also on the cruise yesterday. “Today is Mother’s Day. The family outing is not only to let them feel more about the nature and the outside world but also share a precious and relaxing time with their mothers. Let them learn to thank their mothers on this very special day,” said Tang Ying with the SAS.