A Dixi opera mask made by Yang Zhenghong [Photo/IC]

The film Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles directed by Zhang Yimou has made the Dixi opera, which has varied movements and artistic masks, well known to the public.

"Mask is a symbol, a style, a token of god and ghost, and an essential part of in religious festivals. There is always a story or more behind each mask," said Yang Zhenghong, who is an inheritor of the Dixi opera mask engraving, and also one of the top 10 folk artisans in Guizhou province.

Yang inherited the technique from his ancestors, which has been passed down the generations for hundreds of years. He has such a proficient skill that his hands serve as measure gauge when making masks.