After graduating from the training class, she signed an 8-year contract with Shaw Brothers. Initially, she was cast in costume roles, playing supporting characters in films such as
The Crimson Palm,
The Lotus Lamp, and
Inside the Forbidden City; but her big break came when she was finally offered her first starring role as the Carp Spirit / Peong in
The Mermaid alongside
Ivy Ling Po. In May 1965, Li Ching won Best Actress at the
12th Asian Film Festival for her performance in The Mermaid. Since she was not yet 17 at the time, she was dubbed the "Baby Queen of Asian Cinema". In 1967, her performance in
Susanna, her first modern romantic drama, received critical acclaim which further solidified her reputation. Following that, Shaw Brothers carefully planned her rise to stardom, producing a series of new films for her that consistently broke box office records. In the early 1970s, Li Ching's film
Have Sword, Will Travel - beside the actors
Ti Lung and
David Chiang - ranked as the 6th highest grossing film of the year; and by 1969, she had appeared in more than 20 films. Except for a 6-month break in 1969 due to a fractured left leg, Li Ching was almost constantly filming, completing numerous Huangmei opera movies. During her time at Shaw Brothers, she appeared in around 50 films, including
Chang Cheh's
Dead End,
King Eagle, and
The New One-Armed Swordsman. She was also considered one of the "Top 10 Actress in
Hong Kong Cinema", and became one of the most sought-after actresses in both Hong Kong and
Taiwan. At the end of 1976, Li Ching ended her 13-year relationship with Shaw Brothers and began working as a freelance actress, travelling between Hong Kong and Taiwan. She also co-founded the Changtian Company with director
Lo Ma and starred in their debut film,
The Chase. Li eventually announced her retirement as an actress in 1983, after appearing in more than 60 films. ==Personal life and death==