Peking University, May 4, 2024: The final of 2024 PKU Top Ten Singers Competition was held recently at the Khoo Teck Puat Sports Complex. What impressed you most about this event? Let’s quantify this fantastic occasion with “numbers” and take a moment to revisit the remarkable performances!

The 2024 Champion Li Xinxuan 

Numbers in the competition schedule

37 Years of Tradition: Starting from 1986, the Peking University Top Ten Singers Competition has been running for 37 years. It stands as a renowned flagship event among universities in Beijing.

13, 10, 5 structure: the event’s finale compromises of three segments, featuring innovative changes to the traditional competition rules. Following the performances of the 13 singers in the first round, designation of the Top 10 Singers will not be immediately determined, unlike previous years. Instead, the selection will be determined based on the combined outcomes of the first two rounds. As a result, each singer gets the chance to perform twice, making it both equitable and advantageous. In the third round, the remaining 5 contestants compete for the titles of champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up.


Numbers in the competition entries

"1 meat, 1 green: Mom's Cooking (一荤一素)"

The title of this song poetically describes a meal carefully prepared by a mother, consisting of one meat and one green dish, highly aligning with the Chinese philosophy of a balanced diet. This song was performed by singer Wang Ruozhou, a 2022 Master’s student from the school of journalism and communication. Originally performed by mainland Chinese singer Mao Buyi, this song captures the deep nostalgia and longing a child’s feels for their mother’s nurture and care.

"Letter to Myself at 15: 手纸～拝启十五の君へ (写给十五岁自己的信)"

This song was performed by singer Cao Jinghe, a Ph.D. candidate from the College of Future Technology, in his first round. Cao’s performance was a rendition and rearrangement of the original solo piece composed by the Japanese artist Angela Aki, which was written as a letter to her younger self on her 30th birthday. This song’s narrative structure, addressing a 15-year-old self, expresses one’s yearning and longing for life.

"Choose “C” (3): - (都选C)"

In his second round, singer Cao Jinghe presented a rendition of the song “Choose C". To Chinese students, the letter “C” holds a special significance. Beyond its alphabetical significance, the letter "C" also symbolizing the third choice in multiple-choice question. This distinctive number therefore evokes a sense of nostalgia and shared experience for multiple generations of students who have navigated the rigors of standardized testing.


As we celebrate the musical charm, we are reminded of the power of numbers to inspire and connect. What is your “magical number” from the final of the 2024 PKU Top Ten Singers Competition? Let us embrace the beauties of love and bravery in numbers at Peking University!

Written by: Fu Jiaqi
Edited by: Niki Qiu
Photos by: Zhu Chengxuan, Li Yijie, Cong Rongqing, Zhang Haoran, Dengyang Landuo, Lu Zan