Chen Ming aims to meet her audiences in a simple and intimate atmosphere for her upcoming Beijing concert. Provided to China Daily

The program, based on a South Korean counterpart, pits seven seasoned vocalists against one another. It was Chen's first public appearance since she withdrew from the limelight to live quietly as a mother and wife.

"The show focuses on music and vocals," she says.

"Today's pop industry ignores music and hasn't heard my voice in a long time. Appearing on the show rekindled my passion."

In 1993, Chen gave up her stable factory job and left her hometown of Luoyang city, Henan province, to chase her musical dream in Guangdong province's Shenzhen, which was the mainland's major pop hub.

She became a bar singer and covered Hong Kong stars' popular songs. The happiest thing then, Chen recalls, was cooperating with bands and singing live.

"The mainland didn't have record companies," she recalls.

"My dream was to release my own cassette."

Guangzhou's China Record Co signed her in 1994 and released her first album. It was then the largest and oldest State audio and video publishing group.

"I still remember traveling across the country by train to promote the album," she recalls.

"I was 24, and everything was so new and interesting. I didn't matter if I made it or not - I was loving the journey."

Three best-selling albums in, Chen got married and decided to take a break. It was 1998.