Jin Shanshan 

A Chinese woman who became a folk singer after years as a migrant worker finally realized her dream in 2017 with the release of her debut album.
Jin Shanshan has two big bright eyes, dark black hair, and a naturally outgoing smile. She is a graceful lady, known by her nickname “The Little Folk Song Fairy”.
Jin is already an active star on the folk scene. In recent years, she travelled all around China and took her beautiful singing wherever she went.
Singer Ambition
In 2001, Jin left her impoverished home in a remote county located in central China's Hunan Province. She migrated to Shenzhen to take up a job in a car manufacturing factory.
At a gathering with people from her hometown, she sang a song in public to her friends before a meal.
In those years, karaoke was quite popular in China. It just so happened that a song named Eighteen Zigzags Along a Mountainous Path was playing in the restaurant.
Everyone around Jin was shocked by her voice, which was pure, penetrating and sweet.
Even the waiters and waitresses of the restaurant came over to enjoy it. "Your singing is so outstanding that it's possible for you to become a pop star with some good efforts," somebody commented.
Jin was excited to hear this. With an unbending character, she decided to challenge her written destiny and to grow her ambitions. "Since I'm endowed with such a good voice, I have to treasure it," she said.
A seed of music was sowed into her mind after that gathering.
In 2007, Jin took part in a karaoke competition among migrant workers in south China's Guangdong Province. From the preliminary stage to the final, she defeated every rival and won gold.
Improving Herself
In 2009, Jin went to Beijing, and through good luck and chance she got a place at China Conservatory of Music to study singing.
She was always the first student to arrive at the school and the last one to leave. At that time, she lived in a basement where the lighting was so dim that she had to review music theory knowledge in the corridor next to the bathroom.
Throughout the two years at the college, she attended many courses on ethnic music. In order to sing better, she practiced over and over. "The rhythm is just like the impulse of life," she said.
From being too nervous to say a complete sentence while introducing herself at the beginning of her college class, to being recognized by classmates as a skylark, Jin has motivated herself to keep studying hard and finally realized her transformation through education.
Gratitude
Having gained a reputation, Jin started to apply her musical talent to one touching song after another. Her first self-composed song was dedicated to expressing her deep love for her hometown.
Additionally, she has taken part in many charity shows.
Her album, Jin's Songs Fly, was released last year and became widely popular.
"I have no idea what my future holds, but I will stay grateful and sing more beautiful songs. I would never forget the people who have been supporting me," Jin concluded.