Super Boy, a Chinese version of American Idol, kicked off on Mar 31 and will last five months until the finale on Sept 3.

Aspiring hopefuls can go to 21 cities including Changsha, Chengdu and Hangzhou to take part. They can also apply online via 11 selected websites.

The show will also be open to overseas Chinese boys this year. Singer-wannabes in North America, Australia and Malaysia can apply to compete in 10 cities including Sydney, San Francisco and Kuala Lumpur.

The contestants' looks are being managed by For Him Magazine, Esquire and Men's Health. Senior South Korean music producer Kim Hyung-suk, will sit in on the competition as an observer, to select members of his proposed band.

First hosted in 2007 by Hunan TV, Super Boy is the nation's most popular boys' talent show. Many of its winners, such as Zhang Jie and Su Xing, have now joined the professional circuit.