China's TV singing contest "Super Girl" will return to screens after a ten-year hiatus.

 

经过十年的暂停，中国电视歌唱比赛《超级女声》将重回荧屏。
 

 

The show -- to be re-launched by Hunan Satellite TV, in Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan Province -- is similar to "American Idol¹" and among the earliest contests in China offering ordinary people a chance at stardom.

 

About 610,000 people have registered to enter the contest, according to a press conference held on Tuesday.

 

Women above 18 years old can apply to be a contestant². They will be scored by the judging panel³ and public votes. The twenty finalists will be announced on June 18. 

 

Hong Tao, a judge, said that the show aims to "discover uncut jades⁴ that will shine with a bit of polishing."

 

The show was first produced in 2004, and at its height 200 million people tuned⁵ in to watch the live, three-hour finale of "Super Girls 2005."

 

Li Yuchun, a student with Sichuan Conservatory⁶ of Music, won the contest in 2005. She later appeared on the cover of Time Asia Magazine as one of the 25 Asian Heroes of the year. A set of stamps were issued featuring her.

点击收听单词发音