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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Via AP news wire

Dressing visitors in ancient China's imperial splendor is booming in Beijing

China Ancient Costumes - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Chen Jiao has a curious job: transforming visitors to resemble empresses from ancient China as young people explore a revival of traditional culture.

She is one of hundreds of makeup artists working at studios in Beijing near the Forbidden City, once home to the emperors of China's last two dynasties, Ming and Qing.

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