Conversing with "Monkey Jack" is Li Bing's daily routine. The performance of ventriloquism is usually based on the amusing interaction between the ventriloquist and the puppet. [Photo by Wang Qing/For China Daily]

Li Bing, a ventriloquist in his 20s, was born in a rural village in Peixian county, Xuzhou, East China's Jiangsu province. In order to ease the burden on his father, Li, who had excellent school grades, gave up the opportunity to go to university and stepped into society early in life to earn a living. Li had worked as a salesperson, construction worker, street vendor, and populace actor. He is incredibly hardworking and often very intelligent, versatile in all sorts of different jobs. Living on his own hands gives him a sense of fulfillment.

The first step in becoming a good ventriloquist is to choose a puppet that matches the character you are trying to create. The artist needs to work on throwing his voice, using a different accent or tone, and speaking without moving his lips. Animating the puppet is another aspect of ventriloquism, so that the artist usually takes effort to practice moving the puppet's mouth and body in time with what he is saying. In time, the artist has to develop a routine and dialogue between himself and the puppet.