Even without a mole on his chin, Gu Xiaoyue bears an uncanny resemblance to Mao Zedong. So when he walks into a mall in Tseung Kwan O with his hair combed back and dressed in a charcoal-grey Mao suit, Gu is soon mobbed by the lunchtime crowds. Many can't help marvelling at the 'historical' figure in their midst and seize the chance to take photos.
Gu is used to the attention; he's a professional Mao impersonator. 'It's just part of my job and I enjoy it,' he says.
Thanks to a nostalgic interest in the Mao era, the number of people who make a living playing the Great Helmsman has proliferated over the past decade. Only a handful such as Gu are recognised by state authorities, but there are many more unofficial ones who are hired to spice up functions from shop openings to conferences. Last year, more than 130 impersonators auditioned to play Mao in a show aimed at tourists visiting his hometown of Shaoshan in Hunan.
Some are talented mimics of Mao's speech patterns and mannerisms, but few have mastered the chairman's calligraphic style as skilfully as Gu.
The 44-year-old, himself an established calligrapher, was in town last week to promote an exhibition of his brush work to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Gu was working as a publicity officer in a state-owned enterprise more than 10 years ago when friends drew attention to his resemblance to the chairman, inspiring him to embark on a new career as a Mao impersonator.
