Non-mainland singers play essential part at Gala

Singers from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan have proven to be an essential part of the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. They were first included in the program in 1984. And over the next two decades, recorded hit after hit.

In 1984, a youthful Ming Min Chang from Hong Kong, hit the CCTV stage for the Spring Festival Gala.

Singers from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan have proven to be an essential part of the CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

His performance of the song "My Chinese Heart" deeply touched the national audience.

In December of the same year, the Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed in Beijing, for the return of Hong Kong to China.

In 1987 Fei Xiang, also known as Kris Phillips, became the first Taiwan-based singer to perform at the CCTV Gala.

His tunes "Flame in Winter" and "Clouds From Homeland" became instant hits across the country. Subsequently, his first album released on the mainland sold a staggering 20 million copies.

Since then, a string of entertainers from Hong Kong and Taiwan have performed. Among them are Paula Tsui, Pan An Pang, Alan Tam, and Pan Mei Chen to name just a few.

For each of them, the CCTV stage invariably served as a launch pad for their successful careers.

From 1995 singers like Andy Lau, Yaya Meng, and Fey Wong followed in their footsteps. All gained huge mainland fan bases from the Gala.

After two decades, the entertainers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have become an essential part of the CCTV gala.