Guizhou artisan strikes gold making faces

Opera mask master carves brighter future for ancient craft

Nuo Opera, a ritual largely intended to ward off evil spirits, has transformed people's fortunes in Guizhou province. In rural Dejiang county, Wang Guohua teaches his apprentices how to carve ferocious Nuo masks.

"I wasn't respected by other villagers, as they didn't see carving masks as a decent job," the 52-year-old artisan said. "Now, it's big business."