Zhang, 48, works at a crafting workshop in Zhongshan, Guangdong province. Recently, images of him working with his cheeks swollen like two balls garnered attention on social media.

Colleagues often playfully call him "Frog Prince". The artisan himself optimistically compares his condition to practicing "Ham mo cong" — a martial art mimicking a toad's posture from wuxia films. However, this unique appearance is the lasting sequela of an occupational disease accumulated over half his lifetime.

Zhang, 48, inflates his cheeks while blowing glass at a workshop in Zhongshan, Guangdong, China, December 2025. Photo: *Sina*.

Doctors state that Zhang suffers from occupational facial muscle injury. The repeated action of blowing air with high pressure over many years caused his muscle fibers to overstretch, lose elasticity, and sag permanently. "My face completely changed after 30 years of diligently shaping hundreds of products every day," he said.

Inside the workshop, temperatures remain consistently high. Artisans like Zhang often work shirtless, using 1,5 meters metal pipes to retrieve molten glass exceeding 1,000 degrees C. They must blow forcefully while skillfully rotating the pipe to shape the glass before it hardens.

Even with modern machinery becoming widespread, intricate glass products still require the lung power and skilled hands of an artisan. This is why Zhang continues to persevere in his profession despite the impact on his appearance.

Zhang's story has garnered widespread interest from the online community. Most expressed admiration for the artisan's dedication and sacrifice in keeping the traditional craft alive.

Minh Phuong (Sina, SCMP)