Photo taken on December 11, 2025 shows Zhang Fengfeng performs face-changing for foreign friends at Xinjiang People's Publishing House.

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Qin Meihua) news: To the beat of frantic drums, a red mask flips to black in the blink of an eye; with the next spin, it turns snow-white. Moments ago at a talent showcase in Urumqi’s Economic and Technological Development Zone (Toutunhe District), northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Zhang Fengfeng’s Sichuan opera face-changing act hadn't even finished when thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Thirty-five-year-old Zhang is a grassroots worker at a local community in Xinjiang, and also a devoted lover of Sichuan opera face-changing. Asked how she fell for the art, she laughs: as a child she happened to catch a face-changing act on television, and was instantly hooked by the masks that switched in the blink of an eye, the flowing, carefree movements. "It felt like pure magic. I kept wishing I could do it myself." That childhood curiosity became the seed she has since spent years cultivating.

Photo shows Zhang Fengfeng prepares for the performance of a recent talent show held in the Economic and Technological Development Zone (Toutunhe District) of Urumqi City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

In 2022, Zhang finally decided to pursue the dream she had cherished since childhood. After work, she scoured the internet for videos and articles on Sichuan face-changing, studying every movement in detail. Unsure how to paint the masks, she followed online tutorials and practiced for hours on end. To master the core techniques, she asked around until she found a certified inheritor of Sichuan face-changing and became his apprentice. During the holiday, she also traveled to Sichuan for intensive training. In just twelve days, she overcame the challenges of limited time and high difficulty to complete the course successfully. Along the way, she also learned dragon-dance from her master and earned his special appreciation.

Photo taken on December 9, 2025 shows Zhang Fengfeng exercises in a physical training room in Sanping Farm, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

"It was incredibly hard at the beginning. Even the basic turn of the body or lift of the hand had to be drilled hundreds, sometimes thousands of times," Zhang recalled. Face-changing demands near-perfect control of posture, force, and rhythm. During every show the tight elastic of the masks leaves her face aching, and months of practice have thickened the skin on her fingers. "But whenever I think of sharing this beautiful art with the audience, I know every bit of the pain was worth it," she said.

Photo taken on December 9, 2025 shows Zhang Fengfeng guides children to draw facial makeup at Yinghua Kindergarten in Urumqi City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo taken on December 9, 2025 shows Zhang Fengfeng guides children to draw facial makeup at Yinghua Kindergarten in Urumqi City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Ever since she took part in last year's shehuo parade of the Lantern Festival in Urumqi City, Zhang has been invited to perform more and more often. In the community activity room she gives full-length shows so residents can experience intangible cultural heritage without leaving home. On the community's football and basketball courts she performs in impromptu turns while neighbours relax, attracting many children and adults to watch. At rural fairs her face-changing becomes the liveliest attraction; amid cheers and the smell of street food, traditional culture travels from hand to hand.

Today, Zhang's face-changing act has stepped onto an even wider stage. When foreign study-tour groups visit, they gave her thumbs-up mid-performance, snapped photos and exclaimed "Amazing!" "Every show is a chance to show the beauty of Sichuan face-changing and let more people discover traditional Chinese culture," she said. She hopes the art will serve as a bridge, carrying intangible heritage across regions and borders until it is known and loved everywhere.

Photo taken on December 9, 2025 shows Zhang Fengfeng rehearses the folk performance with the residents in Fengbei Community, Beizhan East Road Sub-district, Urumqi Economic and Technological Development Zone (Toutunhe District), northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

For two years, Zhang Fengfeng did not mechanically copy the traditional performance form of face-changing, but instead began to consider combining Sichuan Opera face-changing with local elements of Xinjiang. In the performance of Dolan Muqam, she moved through the procession to the beat of the drums and interacted with actors of all ethnic groups. During the folk performance, the elderly women who were doing Yangko dance (a popular rural folk dance) surrounded her and performed the fan dance.

"I want to incorporate Xinjiang characteristics into the facial makeup painting, such as snow lotus, pomegranate, and Atlas Silk patterns on the facial makeup. The performance soundtrack is no longer confined to Sichuan Opera gongs and drums, but incorporates Dombra singing and playing as well as hand drum rhythms, allowing various styles of rhythm to collide and create a wonderful spark," Zhang said.

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