'Tomboy' emerges as an atypical singing star

Zhou Bichang will cover six cities across the Chinese mainland, including Guangzhou, Chongqing, Beijing and Shanghai, from August to December, to promote her latest album

When Zhou Bichang became the first runner-up in the Super Girl Competition, a Chinese version of American Idol for female contestants, broadcast by Hunan Satellite Television in 2005, she impressed audiences with her tomboy image and her assured and expressive singing, especially her distinctive interpretation of R&B songs.

Now, over a decade later, Zhou, who was then seen in a T-shirt, jeans and sporting black-framed glasses, has transformed into one of the country's best-selling pop stars.