The all-male Chinese band Huaer, or The Flowers, started the first round of its public selection for a new member by launching a talent competition on Saturday in downtown Beijing, the web portal Sina.com reported.

Young men and women who dream of becoming stars showed off their various talents, including singing, dancing, playing instruments and participating in talk shows with the three members of Huaer as judges.

The music label Gold-Typhoon said 50 contestants would be shortlisted for the scond round of the competition.

The final winner will be able to participate in the recording of the band's new album and its upcoming 10-year anniversary concert tour.

Gold-Typhoon said last July that Shi Xingyu, the band's guitarist, decided to leave the entertainment business to pursue other endeavors. His departure left an opening in the band for a new member.

Huaer rose to fame in the late 1990s as China's first popular teenage boy band. At that time, it only consisted of vocalist Zhang Wei, drummer Wang Weibo and bassist Guo Yang. Shi Xingyu joined the band in 2001.

After several years of inactivity earlier this decade, the band regained its popularity with the 2005 hit single "Xi Shua Shua."