Since March, Yi has also been an ambassador for the World Wildlife Day, a campaign by the United Nations Environment Programme, International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Nature Conservancy; charity ambassador of the China Children and Teenagers' Fund, as part of a project to help poor children realize their music dreams; and Danish tourism ambassador in China, in conjunction with the Danish-Chinese Tourism Year of 2017.

During an interview with China Daily, when he was asked about his growth as a musician, Yi gave a short answer: "I just want to do what I like and what I think is right."

"The image of China's youth is full of positive energy and sunshine. The world is getting to see and understand us more and more, and I'm sure the image will grow in the future," he says.

As a senior middle school student, Yi has his feet firmly on the ground. But he also thinks beyond his immediate surroundings.

"I'd like to do something for the world; for instance, to call for people to protect the environment. Still, the most important thing for now is to study hard," he says.

During his birthday concert, Yi announced the establishment of the Yi Yangqianxi Love Fund.

Its first phase will help raise 1.5 million yuan ($227,000) to support a charity program for the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation to help more than 2,000 rural, "left-behind" children, whose parents have moved to urban areas to earn a living with temporary jobs.

Li Ruixue, a senior student at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, is one of Yi's fans.

"He gives me the power to aim higher," she says.

Li says she was first inspired by her idol's decision to donate his pocket money to help support a child with a disability in a village in Sichuan province for three years.

"His love and kindness push more people to do their part for the needy," she says.