You may be startled to see China's late prestigious leaders - Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Chou Enlai, General Chenyi and female revolutionary Song Qingling resurrected and waving to crowds. You may be even more surprised to see contentious Chang Kai-Shek shaking hands with long-time enemy Chairman Mao.

Performance in front of a farmer's market in Shenyang. [Southern Weekend]

The late leaders were also seen shaking hands and chatting with vegetable venders. Some elderly people couldn't control their feelings and after gripping Mao's hands, left stunned without a word.

Of course, they are not real figures. But neither are they are just professional actors.

They are some laid-off workers from Shenyang, Northeast Liaoning Province and they make their living impersonating late leaders.

'Chou Enlai' was once the head of a local company's security department. 'Song Qingling' is a laid-off grain warehouse worker and 'Chang Kai-Shek' is a former first-class chef.

Preparation before a performance. [Southern Weekend]

"We perform three or four times per month and make several hundred yuan," a man who performs the role of admired Premier Chou Wang Dong says.

"People will think we are real leaders and are thrilled at the sight of us. Some elderly will even ask us for help. In some places, the traffic police will salute to us," Wang says.

The 58-year old Wang is the leader of the troupe, and impersonated Premier Chou Enlai during the Cultural Revolution, which derailed China for over ten years, from 1966 to 1976. Wang has spent thousands of yuan purchasing costumes in a bid to look as close to Chou as possible.

Wang Dong [far left], who plays Chou Enlai, makes a speech during a performance. [Southern Weekend]

Wang learned he looks like Chou in the 70s, while he was working as a Zhiqing - one of the youths sent down to the countryside for reeducation during the disastrous Cultural Revolution after he came across a famous actor named Li Moran, who told him that as he got older, he began to look more and more like Chou.

But he never thought anything of it until much later. He kicked off his impersonation career in the 90s after numerous comments on his special appearance.

"I love the charming Chou and am willing to dedicate myself to impersonating him," Wang says, adding that it would be hard for him to imitate the leader if he held no love or respect for him.

Yan, who plays Chiang Kai-Shek, lights a cigarette for Li Guangqi, who plays Mao Zedong, after a performance. [Southern Weekend]

"We must be full of love toward these leaders in an effort to better imitate them." Wang says.

Even though they may impersonate late leaders' it doesn't make them wealthy.

Fifty two-year old Li Guangqi, who impersonates Chairman Mao during the Long-March Period from 1934 to 1936 says he can't support himself by impersonating Mao and is looking for other means to make a living, such as telephone card and insurance sales. In his shabby house, only big enough for one person, there are lots of young Mao's portraits.

Apart from Shenyang, the troupe has staged performances in Yan'an, Beijing, Jilin, Heilongjiang and Dalian.