In tune with herself

The song, which deals with the topics of race, cultural difference and new lives, is also the title song of Li's 10th studio album, which she released on July 24. So far, the digital album, priced at 20 yuan ($2.83) on QQ Music, has sold over 1 million copies.

"The best part of my job is to be inspired by an idea, a photo, a picture or a sentence. But it also means the beginning of challenges, such as working on collaborations, expanding the idea into a song, then a full-length album, which delivers the messages I want to share," says the 35-year-old pop star.

On Oct 20, eight songs from the new album got their live premiere in Beijing at a concert which attracted hundreds of fans, despite the chilly night air. They carried neon lights with Li's name on while screaming her name.

She performed an impromptu dance while singing the song The Number You Have Dialed Is Not in Service and she played guitar while performing the soothing ballads All the Girls and The Seasons.

Lu Yongshan, 29, flew from Hangzhou to Beijing for the concert. She has been a fan of Li since 2005.