Sponsored by MTV China, one of the most popular music channels in China, and Samsung Anycall, the "New Air" Campus Singing Contest has got underway in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenyang and Beijing last week.
Students from 19 Beijing universities attended the opening ceremony held at Peking University. Some pop singers such as Xu Wei, Wang Jue and Dai Jun also took part in the ceremony.
Ten colleges, in each of the five cities, will hold the first round and semi-finals during the coming seven months.
The final contest will be held in Beijing in October. Finalists will win the scholarship award ranging from 5,000 yuan (US$603.9) to 15,000 yuan (US$1,811.6).
According to Li Yifei, managing director of MTV China, the contest is designed to enrich the students' campus life and encourage them to display their singing talents.
"MTV Tian Lai Cun," one of the most popular programmes of MTV China, will broadcast the highlights of the singing contest from the end of March.
"MTV is always committed to providing the best TV shows to youth audiences across China. In the coming seven months, we will offer college students in China a platform to express their interests and to show their talents," said Li.
(Beijing Weekend March 26, 2003)
