After uncovering the mystery behind face changing, Zeng now looks at it all much more rationally. "Face changing is only a trick of Sichuan Opera," he says. "Without the rich cultural background behind it, it is only a kid show."

In spite of the controversy, Zeng's success has won him respect from Sichuan Opera masters, such as Peng Denghuai, who is known as the "king of face changing in Sichuan Opera".

Though Zeng is not the world's fastest face-changing artist, he can change up to 10 masks in a show. But he doesn't think the number of masks one can change in a show is the soul of mask changing: "If one only pursues the number, it is hard for audiences to enjoy the beauty of masks." Opera masks have become the most important part of Zeng's life - even his bed is in the shape of a big mask.