Chinese actress Fan Bingbing poses with a "bald" look for the September issue of Esquire.

The battle of September covers of renowned magazines is on.

September, the month that marks the change of seasons, is critical for magazines. Editors give it all they've got in coming up with great ideas and producing an excellent issue.

The cover, as the first thing readers see, naturally becomes the most important part that goes into making a magazine. The best of the best will be used, from photographers, stylists, makeup artists and the most attractive and 'in' models or stars.

Cosmopolitan invited Angelababy, a Hong Kong based model, to add new vitality into the cover. Harper's BAZAAR asked Tang Wei to shoot a face-shot cover with dazzling and charming red lips. Zhang Ziyi and Shu Qi both collaborated with ELLE and shot feminine and graceful covers. Vogue and Marie Claire gathered supermodels to cover this significant month.

Chinese actress Fan Bingbing has joined hands with top-class men's magazine Esquire and worked up quite a transformation for the magazine's 15th anniversary issue. Her delicate features and beautiful locks were nowhere to be seen with her new 'bald' head and masculine expression, making her stand out among the numerous feminine covers of other magazines.

This is the third time Fan Bingbing worked with Esquire. When asked whether she is scared for her upcoming 30th birthday, Fan replied: "I'm scared of drinks with color, nightmares and tanning under the sun, but I'm not afraid of turning 30."

Stars shine on red carpet for the opening ceremony of 64th Cannes Film Festival

Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing arrives on the red carpet for the opening ceremony of the 64th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes May 11, 2011.

New Fan Bingbing photos

Latest promotional photos of actress Fan Bingbing.

Actress Fan graces Elle magazine

Fan Bingbing is the glamorous cover girl on the June issue of Elle's Chinese version.

The cover story, titled 'precious woman', takes the actress as an example for women to "find their own glamour, instead of relying on men."

Fan Bingbing shot to stardom at 17 after her role as a loyal maid in the 1998 hit series 'Princess Returning Pearl'. Over the following decade she was plagued by negative gossips. Initially she defended herself, but has since chosen to keep quiet.

"I want to prove to everyone that persistency leads to success," she says in the interview.

Since then Fan has maintained a steady output on both the small and silver screens. She was named 'Best Actress' at Chinese mainland's Baihua film awards in 2004 and Taiwan's Golden Horse awards in 2007.

The siren launched her own studio in 2007 and produced the hit serial 'Yan Zhi Xue', or 'Rogue Snow'.

The studio's second project, 'The Last Night of Madam Chin', is in post production and will be aired at the end of the year.

The 28-year-old actress, currently shooting the action thriller 'Bodyguards and Assassins', will enjoy big exposure in cinemas this year. Altogether seven films starring Fan are set to be released, a record for a Chinese actress. The releases include 'Shinjuku Incident' and 'Sophie's Revenge'.

"As you grow older, you will feel both life and time are fleeting," she says, "so enjoy your life with full strength."

"Shinjuku Incident" Fan Bingbing covers HK magazine

Mainland star Fan Bingbing is on the cover of the April issue of trendy magazine Harper's Bazaar, the Hong Kong version. Fan Bingbing and Jackie Chan starred film "The Shinjuku Incident", has raked in about 6 million H.K. dollar since its opening there on April 2nd. The actress, most commonly known for her appearance, is received by film critics this time for her role in the Japan-backdropped film.