China witnesses a flood of applications for performing arts schools every February. Tens of thousands of students take exams and demonstrate their performance skills in a process known in Chinese as "yikao." 

Although it's half a year away from the start of the next academic year, art academies around the country have already begun their admissions processes. The Central Academy of Drama is one school that has very few slots in majors such as acting, directing and TV anchoring.

The overall qualification exam includes three rounds of competition. One can only get the chance to meet the judges in person if the first and second written tests are passed. Hopefuls also have to cooperate with fellow applicants, who are also their competitors.

According to Zhang Na, director of the Dean’s Office at the Central Academy of Drama, there are a record number of applicants this year. There are over 36,000 examinees, up by 4,000 from the previous year. She says "one in every 246 will get a place on the drama and film performance classes. But there's also a surge in backstage majors like stage art design, drama literature, and drama teaching."

However, acceptance is no guarantee of stardom. Zhang says aspiring talents sometimes have to make compromises. 

The overwhelming desire to become TV or movie stars helped in creating these conditions. But the luxury of being a celebrity may be an exaggeration by the media. The journey to stardom is long, and this nationwide exam is just the first step.