面塑，就是捏“面人儿”。

The Chinese word miansu (literally “dough sculpture”) refers to dough figurines.

　　捏面人儿的主要原料是糯米面。糯米面经过加工，制成各种颜色的面团。利用简单的工具，艺人就能把面团捏成各式各样的人物或动物。比如孙悟空、猪八戒、关羽、穆桂英、花木兰等中国传统戏曲人物就经常被捏成面人。

The main raw material of dough figurines is sticky rice flour, which is processed into dough of various colors. Using simple tools, craftsmen are able to turn the dough into all sorts of different figures and animals. Several characters from traditional Chinese operas—including Sun Wukong (known as the Monkey King), Zhu Bajie, Guan Yu, Mu Guiying and Hua Mulan—are frequently made into dough figurines.

　　上海的“面人赵”和北京的“面人汤”，代表了南北两种不同风格的面塑艺术，“面人赵”的面塑比较细致、色彩鲜艳，“面人汤”的面塑则古朴生动。

"Dough Figurine Zhao" from Shanghai and "Dough Figurine Tang" from Beijing represent two different styles of dough sculpture arts. Sculptures of "Dough Figurine Zhao" tend to be detail-oriented and brilliantly colored, while sculptures of "Dough Figurine Tang" are lifelike and possess primitive simplicity.

　　面人体积不大，不易变形和褪色，携带方便，是很好的旅游纪念品，尤其受到小朋友的喜爱。所以，在中国各地的旅游景点经常可以见到捏面儿的民间艺人。

Dough figurines are small in size and highly portable. In addition, they do not easily become misshapen, nor do their colors fade easily. For these reasons, dough figurines make excellent souvenirs, and are especially popular among children. It is common to see folk artists creating dough figurines at scenic spots throughout China.