At 4 years old, Chou formally began to learn piano, which opened the door to music for the little boy. He played the piano very well after several years of strict training, and his piano teacher in middle school later said that he could wing it as a teenager.

But away from the piano, Chou was shy and talked little, and his classmates even thought he was mildly autistic.

With music taking up most of his attention and energy, Chou's other courses suffered. At the end of middle school, he failed to enter a university.

But just when he felt aimless, music saved him and since then has totally changed his life.

In September 1997, Chou participated in a talent contest on TV in Taiwan, providing piano accompaniment to a friend competing for a singing prize. Although neither won the contest, Chou's talent for composing caught the eye of host Jacky Wu, who is an important figure in Taiwan's entertainment business. Wu invited Chou to join his music company and gave him a chance to compose for singers in the company.

For nearly two years, Chou sat in the company studio writing songs late into the night. He also took the opportunity learning recording and sound mixing. But things did not go smoothly at first. Singers often rejected his songs, complaining they were too difficult to sing.

But no pain, no gain. Chou eventually got a chance to sing his own songs and release an album. In November 2000, he released his debut album Jay, which includes 10 songs other singers had rejected.

The album proved to be a big success. People were greatly impressed by this gifted young man and his new music style, known as Chou Style, which music commentators described as a fusion of R&B, rap, classical music and distinct Chinese flavor.

Eight years later, Chou has firmly seized his position in Chinese music. The teen idol has been the focus of the media both at home and abroad, including CNN. He has numerous fans in China, Japan, South Korea and many other Asian countries.

Chou has also become a fashion icon. He frequently appears in TV ads, on magazine covers and on various posters in the streets. He is very cool in the eyes of his fans, who imitate his habits, speech and dress.

In the face of fame and wealth, Chou feels calm. Even today, he still feels shy when meeting the public and often does not know what to say to his fans. Chou admitted that he has not lost momentum so far, although his songs have been criticized for lacking change. Believing that staying true to his personality is the most important thing, Chou said he would continue to insist on making music that he himself likes.

"Chou is crazy about work, which is the reason he has achieved so much," said Wu, the TV host. "He can work all day and night without sleeping. He is not a youngster who likes to play or pose in front of others. He is someone who loves art and lives for the stage."