Chongqing — When 13-year-old Yang Bolin reached out to shake hands with his classmates, his black mask suddenly turned yellow, then purple. Gasps and applause filled the classroom at Chongqing No. 7 Secondary School, Affiliated to Chongqing University, where Yang’s New Year talent show performance showcased bianlian — the face-changing art of Sichuan Opera.
Moments later, the classroom lights went out. Yang took a torch from his teacher, inhaled deeply, and blew a fireball into the air, lighting up the room and prompting another wave of cheers. A video of the performance quickly went viral online, with viewers praising him as a young successor to China’s traditional culture. Yang has been studying Sichuan Opera for five years.
Yang Bolin is practicing face-changing. (Photo/Interviewee)
On the day of the show, desks and chairs were arranged in a U-shape, leaving the center as a temporary stage. Dressed in a black opera costume with flowing sleeves and a helmet-style headpiece, Yang stepped forward. With a flick of his arms, a colorful mask turned red, then black, before he moved along the front row, changing faces at each handshake.
After another swift turn, Yang revealed his real face — youthful yet confident — before beginning his fire-breathing finale, which left the classroom in awe.
Behind those few minutes of spectacle lie years of practice. Yang’s interest began in 2021, when he visited Ciqikou Ancient Town with his grandmother. Watching a street performer demonstrate face-changing fascinated him. "I thought if I could learn this skill, I could perform for my grandmother and make her happy," he said.
His mother, Xi Limei, initially hesitated. "Learning Sichuan Opera is very demanding, and he was still young," she said. But seeing his determination, she supported him. After searching for a teacher, they connected with a resident Sichuan Opera performer in Anju Ancient Town, who agreed to train Yang.
Yang Bolin during a training session. (Photo/Interviewee)
Because the town is far from home, Yang practices during weekends and school holidays, often starting at 5 a.m. Basic drills include leg presses, kicks, and sleeve movements, repeated many times. His training also requires mastery of singing, acting, and martial arts performance, as well as precise coordination of movement. "My teacher is very strict," Yang said. "If one glance is wrong or one movement off, we start again."
The most challenging part of Yang's training is fire-breathing. "The first time, I was scared. The flame is so close to your face," he said. His teacher had him start with water practice before moving on to oil. Even now, misjudged angles sometimes leave blisters on his mouth.
His mother has seen the injuries but never urged him to quit. "Once you choose something, you must persist," she said. Yang says the discipline has also helped him focus and persevere in school.
To Yang, face-changing is more than a skill — it is culture. He studies the meaning behind each mask and the characters they represent. His favorite is the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, known for his 72 transformations.
Looking ahead, Yang hopes his performances can help more young people understand Sichuan Opera and traditional Chinese culture. "If I have the chance, I want to bring face-changing to other countries so everyone can see it is a living, accessible art," he said.