An increasing number of Chinese entertainment companies and agencies are recruiting youngsters wanting to become pop idols. This is due to the influence of the multi-billion-dollar K-pop industry in South Korea, which has global appeal.

These young potential idols, known as lianxisheng (trainees) in Chinese, live in dormitories and train intensively together, often starting when they are teenagers. However, despite all the efforts they put in, there is no guarantee that they will make it to the big time, either as soloists or as groups.

"I have loved singing and dancing since childhood and I wanted to give this a try," said Yu Yangzi, adding that her mother was the only one in her family who supported her goal of becoming a singer-dancer. "But since I really want to do it, they've all agreed."

Five singles released

Unlike the three women with I.E.One Entertainment, who are just starting their training, the six boys in the pop group Boy Story have already built a fan base, not only in China but globally.

Produced by the K-pop label JYP Entertainment, its China subsidiary NCC Entertainment, and Tencent Music Entertainment, the Boy Story lineup is Jia Hanyu, 14; Li Zihao, 14; He Xinlong, 13; Yu Zeyu, 13; Gou Mingrui, 12; and Ren Shuyang, 11.

After two years of training in South Korea, they have released five singles since last year. One of their songs, Enough, which is hip-hop based, has received nearly 3 million views on YouTube since being released in September.

When they showed up at a house at a compound on the outskirts of Beijing recently, where they have lived and trained since September, the six displayed their dancing and singing skills and even performed somersaults.

"It's really frustrating when we cannot do the dance moves in unison, so we just keep practicing again and again," said Jia, the group's leader.

He was born and grew up in Zhumadian, Henan province, and stood out among hundreds of his peers when the companies launched auditions in his hometown.