Yes, the talent shows are now in China. The Chinese version of America’s Got Talent was officially introduced to China in July 2010 by Fremantle Media. Shanghai-based Dragon TV, the producer of “China’s Got Talent”, has long been determined to import all the major features of the talent show to China, and to find the Chinese equivalent of Susan Boyle, who gained her fame when competing in “Britain’s Got Talent”.

There are no age cut-off limits excluding contestants from the show since the very beginning of its entry in China. There are neither rules nor selection criteria. The show is fully motivated to use the means from entertainment programs to do branding for the dreams, talents, stories and performance of ordinary Chinese citizens. Therefore, it inspires the talented and the ambitious in China, it has also helped draw attention to the hopes and challenges of disabled and otherwise disadvantaged Chinese.

“Big dreams of the Disadvantaged”

“China’s Got Talent” successfully carries on the fundamental philosophies from its Western counterparts, i.e., encouraging Chinese grassroots to realize their big dreams, and to create miracles through determination and hard work.

Liu Wei, the champion for the first series of the show, is a musician who lost both arms in an accident when he was 10 years old. When he turned to 18, he became fully determined to pursue a career in music by using his toes to play the piano. He played James Blunt’s “You Are Beautiful” at Shanghai Stadium, where the final competition of the show was held. His determination and his performance have impressed both the judges and the audience. As the first champion of China’s Got Talent, Liu Wei not only won the opportunity to perform with famous Taiwanese star Jolin Tsai, he has been offered many other opportunities to keep pursue his passion in music.

Liu Wei is only one among the large number of people who belong to the disadvantaged social class competing in China’s Got Talent. Zhu Xiaoming, who was regarded as the “male version” of Susan Boyle in China, became famous thanks to his courage and boldness. Nation-wide recognition also went to the 45-year-old bicycle repairman, Jiang Renrui, who carried a self-made fabrication on his back to present a lifelike imitation of a peacock displaying its plumage. According to Professor Zhang Yiwu from Peking University, the disadvantaged have presented a typical Chinese dream on the stage of the talent show. No matter how difficult life could be, the pursuit for a fulfilling and dignified lifestyle will never stop.