Chinese pingshu artist Yuan Kuocheng died at age of 86 in Beijing this morning. [Photo/Agencies]

Yuan Kuocheng, one of the best-known storytellers in China, has died at the age of 86.

He died in Beijing early this morning of heart failure.

Yuan Kuocheng was a pingshu performer, a traditional type of Chinese storytelling art. His father and uncles were all pingshu performers.

His most famous work includes "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "King of Western Chu."