The ‘Face Mask Change’ is a unique Chinese art form. Its origin lays in the Sichuan opera. The Mask Change began 300 years ago and as time goes by, the technique is constantly worked upon and improved. This art form is now considered as one of the top folk skills in China and is on top of their list of protected arts.

It is said that ancient people painted their faces to drive away wild animals. Sichuan Opera absorbed this ancient skill and perfected it into an art. There are three types of face-changing techniques in Sichuan opera: "Wiping Mask", "Blowing Mask" , and "Pulling Mask."

The "Pulling Mask" technique is the most complicated of all face-changing techniques. Performers nowadays will be able to change over 10 masks in less than 20 seconds during their routines, in combination with their operatic movements. Performers use different masks to show different emotions, expressing invisible and intangible feelings through visible and tangible masks. From green to blue, red, yellow, brown, black, dark and gold, these masks show fear, tension, relaxation, slyness, desperation, outrage and so on.

For hundred of years, this secret arts form was only passed down by family and was forbidden to female performers. However, female performers can now be seen on stage as mask change masters. All performers who are chosen to learn this art form have to swear to secrecy before they allow to learn even its basics. It takes them many years of hard practise to master the skill. In China, there are less than 200 artists who are able to perform ‘the mask change’.