1956, aged 36, participated in the Quyi Troupe of Heping District, Tianjin, and was one of the important actors of Jingyun Drum Troupe.
During the Cultural Revolution, he was transferred to a factory.
1979, aged 59, was recruited by Tianjin Experimental Quyi Acrobatic Troupe with the former Heping District Quyi Troupe as the main team, and continued to engage in the singing of Jingyun Drum.
In February of the same year, he went to Beijing to attend the "Jingyun Drum Concert" jointly sponsored by the Chinese Quyi Artists Association and China National Radio. Liu Yan sang Bo Wangpo and Borrow Arrows from Grass Boat. On the same stage, there are old actors of Jingyun Drum, such as Sun, Sun, and young actors of Jingyun Drum in Beijing and Tianjin.
In June+10 of the same year, he participated in the second Golden Gate Qu Hui, sang the latest traditional program "Luoguan" and the new historical theme track "Heart for the Motherland", praising the patriotic scientist Li Siguang.
1984, aged 64, retired from the Experimental Quyi Troupe and moved to Beijing; 1998 died at the age of 78.