An enduring enchantment with Peking Opera

The global success of the Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong has helped introduce the tale of Sun Wukong, or the Monkey King, to people around the world. But for Anglo-Iranian Ghaffar Pourazar, the legendary figure has been a part of his life for decades.

Seated before the backstage mirror at Beijing's Liyuan Theatre, an old Peking Opera venue especially popular with foreign travelers, Pourazar deftly applies white, red and black paint to his face, creating the likeness of the mischievous character.

"How time flies! Look at you, you're an old monkey now!" remarks an elderly member of the opera troupe. "Indeed, I am now a white-haired Monkey King," the 63-year-old replies in Mandarin, his Beijing accent showing through.

Pourazar has spent the past three decades mastering Peking Opera, establishing himself as one of the few foreign performers to excel in the traditional art, earning himself fame for his portrayal of the superhero from the classic novel Journey to the West.

Currently, Pourazar travels between China and the United States as a cultural ambassador, introducing Peking Opera to American audiences, and his unique perspective of the art to Chinese audiences. "I want to be a bridge between cultures," he says, reflecting on his multicultural background.