Making Mouth Sounds To Earn A Living

Hunan performer who is skilled in vocal mimicry seeks to promote traditional art

Zhang Kui first learned he could perfectly mimic the sounds of animals and birds when he was a child, but at first the talent only landed him in trouble.

"One night, at about midnight, I imitated a cockerel's crow and woke up the neighbors," he recalled. "My parents really scolded me for that one."