He found fame at the age of 12, when he won the Youth Magic Contest in Taiwan, judged by renowned master magician and showman David Copperfield. But despite his obvious talent, Lu never planned to be a professional magician. He studied Japanese in Taiwan's Soochow University, hoping to find a corporate job to support part-time performing as an amateur magician.

The master magician remains calm although his hands seem to be on fire.

However, his failure to find a satisfactory job after graduation pushed him toward magic as a career, encouraged by parents who ignored prejudices against it as unstable and meaningless work.

Lu quickly distinguished himself in many competitions, taking first place in the international World Magic Seminar Asia in 2003. Two years later he won the Neil Foster/Bill Baird Award for Excellence in Manipulation presented by Chavez College of Magic, one of the highest honors in the field.

Over recent years, Lu has done shows in Las Vegas and Hollywood, two of the most lucrative performance centers in the United States. He has done shows elsewhere, including Japan, South Korea and Britain.

Unlike many magicians, Lu isn't content with achieving success only on stage. From 2001 to 2004, he hosted a TV program named "Magic Star." His humorous performance quickly made the show one of the most popular and discussed programs.

"It was a very special and rewarding experience for me," Lu recalled. "The live street shows for pedestrians, policemen and migrant workers offered me great chances to interact with all kinds of people, and some of them were tough and smart. Moreover, I refined my capabilities to cope with myriad changes and unexpected situations."

Whenever he develops a new magic trick or technique, Lu works it through in a good planning and discussion session with his team. They will work out how to design the trick in the most creative way and make it more intriguing.

Lu's performance on the Spring Festival gala has sparked a renewed interest among youngsters to learn the mysteries of magic. It has also brought him celebrity apprentices such as Taiwan singer Jay Chou and Hong Kong actor/singer Andy Lau.

Lu is optimistic about the future of the age-old art form, adding that young people's enthusiasm about magic will be aroused, particularly, by close-up magic as audiences get close to the magician to participate in shows and see the detail of tricks.

Though Lu appears quite talkative and outgoing on the screen, he dubs himself a quiet, family-oriented person. Movies and Internet surfing are his favorite pastime and after work he seldom stirs out of the house. Shopping on the Internet has become commonplace in his life.

"Now I'm engaged in preparing for my first show tour on the mainland starting from May," Lu added. "The next two months will be very important for me to keep my composure while under the influence of my overnight fame on the mainland.

(Shanghai Daily March 18, 2009)