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

BEIJING (AP) — 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.

Every day, visitors arrive to dress in robes richly embroidered with phoenixes and adorn themselves with jade and pearl pendants and gold fingernail guards like those worn in imperial China. Makeup is carefully applied, and their hair is styled and decorated with tassels and hairpins.

The average cost is 300 yuan ($45), though prices can exceed 1,000 yuan (more than $150).

Once dressed up, people go to the walls and moat surrounding the Forbidden City to pose for photos and videos to share on social media. Blending echoes of ancient times with modernity, some pair their historic costumes with sneakers and sunglasses and drink bubble tea.

“It can get very busy during peak seasons, especially public holidays and weekends,” Chen said.

Recently, she began work at 6 a.m. and transformed around two dozen young women in a single day. There is no off-season for makeup artists, only a brief lull when the Forbidden City closes, she said.

Recent years have see...