Sichuan Opera is one of China's oldest and most popular art forms. Since its inception over 300 years ago, it's still a huge hit in Southwest China, mainly Sichuan and Chongqing. Sichuan Opera normally features solo singing, strong acting, rich percussion and comedy acts. Meng Qingsheng is in Chengdu with more. 

A magical stunt to change multiple faces at the blink of an eye. Face changing is an important aspect of Sichuan Opera. Skilled opera stars can flip through about fifteen masks in twenty seconds.

Zhang Hao is an actor with the Sichuan Opera Troupe. He has been performing the stunt for more than ten years.

ZHANG HAO Sichuan Opera Performer "I learned face changing from a master here at the troupe. Back then, it was difficult to get a chance like that. With lots of practice and training, I managed to acquire the techniques, and I was gradually accepted and liked by the audience."

The precise techniques involved in face changing are closely guarded secrets. At this classical piece of Sichuan Opera, Legend of the White Snake. The stunt is performed to showcase the changing of emotions. While a white face means the character is happy, a black face indicates anger.

ZHANG HAO Sichuan Opera Performer "Face changing requires a solid foundation of opera skills, such as walking, posture, and eye movement. When you're on stage, you should know where to stand, where to look, and how to move. It requirs a lot of on-stage experience to achieve it."

Fire breathing is another stunt used in some performances of Sichuan Opera. The fire column spit out from the mouth of a performer can reach two meters high.

LIU ZHENGYOU Sichuan Opera Performer "The reason why we spit fire in a performance is to showcase the power of the characters. And we employ a series of techniques to achieve that. It has been a traditional stunt."

Liu Zhenyou, also an actor with the Sichuan Opera Troupe, has been performing fire breathing for over thirty years. The secret to the stunt, in his opinion, is being steady and calm.

LIU ZHENGYOU Sichuan Opera Performer "It's dangerous to perform fire breathing. You're gonna burn your mask if you're not careful. When we first started, we practiced by spitting water. We had to spit it smoothly from our mouth. After lots of practice, we would do it with kerosene, and then you would see fire, lots of fire."

Sichuan Opera is a typical folk art popular in Southwest China, mainly in Sichuan and Chongqing. As a national intangible cultural heritage, its performances are always full of wit, humor, and lively dialogue.

Performers have added modern elements to attract new audiences. Today, it's more popular than ever, drawing people into theaters, to enjoy the artistic legacy.

Meng Qingsheng, CGTN, Chengdu, Sichuan Province.