A Chinese man who lost his arms in a high-voltage accident as a child is electrifying audiences with his piano virtuosity using his toes, fans say.

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Liu Wei, 23, appeared on the "China's Got Talent" TV competition this month, playing the classical piece "Mariage D'amour" by Richard Clayderman. His performance at Shanghai Grand Theater earned him a standing ovation and a place in the next round, Shanghai Daily reported Aug. 13.

Liu suffered his life-altering injuries when he came in contact with a power line while playing hide-and-seek as a 10-year-old.

"For people like me, there were only two options," the Daily quoted his as saying. "One was to abandon all dreams, which would lead to a quick, hopeless death.

"The other was to struggle without arms to love an outstanding life."

While he describes himself as "a happy man living a colorful life, just like other young people," it wasn't always so, Liu concedes. He told Shanghai Daily after the accident he often cried hard and tried to "wake up from the nightmare."

He went on to learn to play soccer and then at age 18 decided to try music. A teacher suggested the piano but then gave up on him and friends suggested he should quit.

"But I didn't care if I would become a master as it was only a hobby and I enjoyed playing with my toes," he said, adding he trained on his own from then on.

The Daily Mail reported Liu said he now wants to be seen as a musician.

"What I demand is that my work be so good people won't notice that my arms are missing," he said.