Disabled man uses street art to survive

Using the street as his canvas, a one-legged man spent around six hours making a chalk drawing of Leonardo di Vinci's Mona Lisa on a hot summer day in Linyi, Shandong province, last week.

Despite the temperature reaching 38 C, Cong Langui remained patient, making sure his artwork was as perfect as possible. He stood up every now and then to check his work from a distance, while pedestrians gathered to observe and make donations.

The 55-year-old, who learned how to draw by reading books and watching videos, has been drawing replicas of Mona Lisa for more than 10 years. Cong said he enjoys drawing on the street, even though it usually takes several hours and the artwork disappears soon after it is completed.

He had his left leg amputated when he was 16 years old due to a bone tumor. "I felt inferior after I had my leg amputated, but now I am positive and optimistic about my life."

Cong defines himself as "a beggar who understands a little bit about art".

"I don't need much money. People can watch me produce my artwork for free. Some people who are impressed by my drawings leave as much as 100 yuan ($15) as a donation," he said.

Although physically challenged, Cong has produced artwork on the streets of several cities in China, including Xi'an in Shaanxi province and Shenzhen in Guangdong province. He also plans to leave his mark on the streets of Hong Kong and Taiwan.