Last weekend we attended a ‘Face Changing Show’, known as ‘Bian Lian’, an ancient Chinese dramatic art and an important aspect of the Chinese Sichuan Opera. Performers use ‘face changing techniques’ on stage and transform it into a special art. Due to the lack of a better and more artistic description imagine someone dressed in a beautiful costume wildly waving their arms and twisting their heads while at the same time magically changing brightly-colored face masks half a dozen times.

It is fair to say that it was an interesting evening…

The show venue was a restaurant, Baguobuyi Restaurant. We were told to be there at 6:30 pm because the show were going to start at exactly 6:50 pm and were only going to last for 7-10 minutes! (I am not kidding).

Ok, we arrive at the restaurant on time and expect a stage or at least something resembling a stage. No stage to be seen which leaves us a bit surprised but not too worried (yet). We order our food and drinks, get our cameras ready and wait eagerly for the show to start. Nothing happens!

We try to communicate with our waiters who seem utterly surprised by our question regarding the ‘Face Changing Show’. After a while they come back telling us that the artist(s) are on their way. Half an hour later the artists are still on their way; another half an hour later the artists’ taxi is stuck in Beijing traffic. I am sure you get the point.

To make a long story short: Shortly before 9 pm – we are the only guests in the restaurant by that time – the music changes, the staff is all excited and one person in a beautiful yellow dress including a mask starts dancing between the tables. We see a lot of arms waiving and head twisting – and, I admit – some very colorful masks as well.

After exactly 4:03 minutes the show is over….