Seven popular young Chinese folk singers and their music

Ma Di. [Photo/VCG]

Ma Di

In the winter of 2015, the song Nan Shan Nan, became a hit when it was adapted by many Chinese universities and colleges. Each one of them had its own version of the song with new lyrics, expressing young people's dreams, reflections and hopes for their school lives.

The original music and lyrics were from a young singer called Ma Di, who was born in Beijing in 1989. Ma didn't release his first album Lonely Island until 2014 and had a national tour the following year.

The young musician was deeply affected by two famous modern Chinese poets: Gu Cheng and Hai Zi. Ma was also described as "a boy singing melancholy songs" by his fans.

Click here to listen to Ma's Nan Shan Nan