Zhu Tiexiong, a graduate of Shandong University, has garnered widespread attention on the internet for his dedication to promoting traditional culture through the creation of short videos.

During this year's Spring Festival Gala, Zhu made a memorable appearance at the Xi'an branch by transforming into a martial character from Qin Opera using special effects within 11 seconds.

By combining compelling narratives and intricate special effects, Zhu has amassed over 3.5 million followers on Chinese video-sharing platforms.

In his videos, the 27-year-old swiftly dresses up as historical figures or legendary heroes through meticulously-crafted special effects. The videos also incorporate traditional culture into the story in the form of Peking Opera, lion dances, puppetry shows, and face-changing, to name a few.

Born and raised in Putian, Fujian province, Zhu was influenced by Mazu culture and traditional Chinese opera culture, igniting a passion for the arts at a young age.

In 2013, he was admitted by Shandong University and studied environmental art design at the Weihai campus.

During his four years on campus, Zhu found fertile ground for his creativity. Immersing himself in campus activities, he excelled as the president of the Wushu Association while delving into photography, performance arts, film shooting and post-production. It was during this time that he honed his craft and laid the foundation for his future endeavors.

"The rich campus activities and platforms at Shandong University provided me with various channels to learn, improve, and expand my interests," Zhu said.

Upon graduation, fueled by his love for traditional culture and passion for photography and editing, he chose to become a short video creator. In 2021, he released his first video, depicting a person transforming into the Monkey King to fulfill the dreams of an ill child.

The 30-second video quickly captured attention with its superb costume changes, special effects, and touching storyline, rapidly gaining popularity among internet users.

Since he was a child, Zhu has been a big fan of the Monkey King, or Sun Wukong, a mythical Chinese figure with the ability to transform into 72 different forms.

In his later works, he dressed up as familiar ancient heroes making dazzling appearances at crucial moments in the storyline.

"Traditional Chinese culture is not only beautiful but also inspiring," he said. He emphasized that China has its own superheroes.

"What touches me most about these heroes is their resilience in adversity and their courage to act against all odds," he added. Through short videos, he also hopes to convey a positive and uplifting spirit, encouraging people to never forget their dreams and to dare to strive and persevere in the face of challenges.

 Zhu Tiexiong. [Photo/provided to sdu.edu.cn]