Liu Yan (center) is honored with a Tara Award in Vienna on October 15th, 2016. [Photo: Xinhua]

A wheelchair-bound Chinese dancer has been honored for her persistence and passion for the arts.

34-year-old Liu Yan has been given the Tara Award at the Life Goes On charity gala in Vienna, marking the first time the honor has been given to a Chinese artist.

Back in 2008, Liu was chosen as a lead dancer during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Olympics. However, a fall from the stage during rehearsal caused her to suffer serious spinal cord injuries, stripping her the ability to walk again.

The terrible episode did not paralyze Liu's spirit. She has since carried on her passion for dance, studying and promoting hand gestures in Chinese dance. In 2014, Liu appeared on stage again in The Red Thread to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. Premiering in Beijing, the music and dance performance featured Liu and other artists from the two countries.

Liu has also published a book called Dance of Hands, which is based on her research on hand movements in classical Chinese dance.

The Life Goes On charity gala was established by Olympic athlete Christian Rijavec in 2008, with the aim to recognize people who have gone on to make extraordinary achievements after facing severe challenges.