We love and support a certain individual for different reasons. As for Xiao Zhan, I found him someone truly worthy of love and support. I love his singing and the songs he selects always bring solace and comfort. He sings with joy and that is his way to express. He is a phenomenal actor. That is how I got to know him. I initially wasn’t going to delve into his career outside his projects, but how could I not seeing how much cyber bullying he had endured. And through it all, he remained so grounded, always wanting to give. He rarely goes public, dedicating his time to honing his acting and singing. He doesn’t involve himself in scandals. He is respectful to those he works with. He is so gentle in his words. He nurtures through his actions those that are junior to him. He radiates with goodness and brings so much positivity to this world. I love his aesthetics. I love his words to help his fans grow in their careers. I’m excited to see all the new events and activities unfold throughout the years. It is always wonderful to see what unfolds next for him because as fans, we know that he puts his heart and soul into it. And many folks in the entertainment industry do see it as well. Here’s to a cleaner social media environment, where we support those we love in a grounded rational way. Thank you to those XFX who have done their hardest to provide rational responses to a lot of baseless antagonism towards Xiao Zhan. I am usually a very peaceful XFX and just want to know that Xiao Zhan is safe and happy doing those things that he loves to do. I know he is super grounded in his thoughts and doesn’t let wealth and popularity get into his head. If he receives money, he usually finds a way to give back. His joy is helping others within the means he has at hand. He is inspiring. #XiaoZhan
Xiao Zhan | A ten-year journey from ordinary to the top
In 2015, at 24, Xiao Zhan was still an ordinary designer, spending his days in front of a computer drawing design drafts, living a steady, quiet life. A phone call from a talent show changed the course of his life. The production team found him through a university teacher and invited him to take part in the show X-fire.
At that time, he was a complete amateur with no singing or dancing background, one of the older contestants on the show, with no management agency and no professional training. With nothing but his love for singing and a “just give it a try” attitude, he stood out among tens of thousands of competitors and became one of the sixteen trainees.
After entering the closed training camp, reality was far harsher than he had imagined. With zero dance foundation, his movements were stiff, he couldn’t keep up with the rhythm, and stretching and splits hurt so much they made him dizzy. He thought about giving up countless times. But the stubbornness in him wouldn’t allow him to quit halfway. If others practiced once, he would break it down into pieces and practice it over and over. When others rested, he stayed in the practice room training late into the night alone. On the security cameras, the last light was always his.
Intense training left his toenails bruised until they eventually fell off, and his knees swollen with fluid from repeated injuries. Still, he gritted his teeth and kept going, stepping onto the stage despite the pain.
For his first stage performance, Cruel Moonlight, he was so nervous his voice trembled, but his clean tone and sincere gaze caught the mentors’ attention. He gave himself the nickname “Hot Soda” — gentle on the outside, like warm water, but with a competitive, adventurous spirit inside. On the show, he treated every stage seriously and fought alongside his teammates, going from inexperienced and awkward to gradually finding his rhythm and footing; from a complete beginner to someone noticed by the audience, with his popularity crossing the 100 million mark. With no support and no way back, he completed the transformation from designer to trainee through sheer persistence.
In 2016, he officially debuted as the main vocalist of X-NINE and at the same time stepped into acting, starting as a newcomer in web dramas, quietly building up experience and honing his skills. In the years after debut, he remained steady and grounded, taking every small role seriously, accumulating experience and steadily shaping his mindset during the days when no one was paying attention.
In 2019, The Untamed brought him to the attention of hundreds of millions of viewers. The role of Wei Wuxian became iconic. Xiao Zhan’s portrayal was vivid and layered, capturing the character’s journey from youthful spirit to someone shaped by hardship, and it deeply resonated with the audience. The series quickly became a phenomenon, with consistently high popularity across platforms.
He rose to fame almost overnight, going from a relatively unknown actor working quietly to a top star with both widespread recognition and strong popularity. His Weibo following surged by tens of millions, and he gained the love and recognition of countless viewers.
After his sudden rise to fame, he remained clear-headed and humble. He didn’t let the fame get to his head, but continued to move forward steadily in both acting and stage work.
In September of the same year, his starring film Jade Dynasty was released and performed strongly at the box office, further proving his market appeal. At the end of the year, he made a guest appearance as Yan Bingyun in Joy of Life, leaving a strong impression with his cool, resolute presence.
In music and variety shows, he joined Our Song, partnering with Na Ying, where he showcased his solid vocals and range. His stage performances were widely praised. He also appeared on CCTV and major satellite TV galas, earning mainstream recognition for his sincere and composed stage presence.
In the commercial and fashion fields, his popularity and reputation rose in tandem. Within a short period, he secured dozens of brand collaborations, ranging from mass consumer goods to international beauty brands and high-end fashion, across a wide range of categories. He proved strong in both sales performance and brand trust. He was invited to attend an international fashion week, where his clean, relaxed presence and strong stage presence were well received by the fashion industry.
At the same time, he never forgot to spread kindness. He actively took part in public welfare activities, using his influence to encourage more people to support charitable causes and turn that goodwill into action. Faced with sudden fame, he remained grounded, focused on filming, worked diligently, and kept a low profile, turning every piece of recognition into motivation to move forward. Balancing popularity and ability, he stayed firmly on a steady path as both an actor and an artist.
From his breakthrough in the summer to the turn of the year, this period marked both a high point and a starting point in his career, as well as a key stage in staying true to his original intentions and moving forward steadily. Until the public opinion storm in February 2020, he continued to approach every opportunity life presented with a grounded mindset, using effort and sincerity to write his own story of stardom.
In 2020, Xiao Zhan went through the most difficult year of his life.
A sudden wave of controversy within certain circles pulled him into the eye of the storm. He was hit with widespread online attacks. His endorsements were boycotted, his works were deliberately downrated, his private life was subjected to baseless speculation, and even his family and past were dragged into it.
At the center of it all, he chose to remain silent and bear the pressure. He did not defend himself, did not complain, and did not stir up further conflict. He kept his emotions to himself and focused on his work and self-improvement.
During that time, he turned down unnecessary public appearances and focused on refining his lines and acting. Away from the spotlight, he quietly built himself up, maintaining his composure through silence and meeting the noise with restraint. Even in the face of all that hostility, he never let go of his sense of kindness and responsibility.
In the early stages of the pandemic, he anonymously donated funds to Wuhan, along with urgently needed medical supplies such as ventilators, masks, and protective clothing, to support frontline workers. He later took part in charity livestreams to help promote agricultural products from Hubei as work and production resumed, helping local communities recover in a practical way. He also served as an ambassador for poverty alleviation initiatives, visiting Wei County in Hebei to promote local specialties and support poverty relief through local sales, contributing in his own way to rural revitalization.
All proceeds from his single Spotlight were devoted to charity, supporting projects such as free meal programs, public welfare forests, charity libraries, and music classrooms, turning his passion into lasting goodwill.
After the storm, Xiao Zhan chose to regain his strength in silence and make his return through his work. He later appeared on the CCTV Double Ninth Festival Gala, using his voice to convey strength and taking his first step toward his return.
In November 2020, The Wolf was quietly released online.
He played Ji Chong, a free-spirited yet deeply devoted character, and his standout performance showed that both his popularity and ability were still firmly in place. It became his first release after that difficult period.
On December 20, 2020, at the Tencent Video All Star Awards, he appeared on a major public stage for the first time after that period.
There was no official fan support, no organized ticketing. Fans came on their own, despite all the difficulties, hiding red light signs in their clothing and bringing them into the venue.
No one knew what kind of reaction there would be when he appeared. He himself stepped onto the stage with unease and uncertainty.
The moment the host announced his name, something remarkable happened.
Within eight seconds, in what had been a dim venue, small red lights began to appear from every direction. From scattered glimmers, they quickly came together into a 360-degree sea of red that filled the entire venue, like an unbroken flame, gently yet firmly surrounding the stage.
There were no loud slogans or chants, only quiet, unwavering support. It was the most romantic way millions of fans could tell him: we’ve always been here.
Standing on stage, Xiao Zhan looked out at the sea of red, his eyes reddening as he held back tears, then bowed deeply.
Those eight seconds of red light were not just fan support. They were a moment of mutual support in the darkest times, the brightest light in the dark, and the most moving promise between him and his fans. It was a declaration: he had not been defeated, and their support had never wavered.
After that sea of red, he fully moved past that low point and continued forward steadily. He remained low-key, without hype or self-promotion, proving through his actions that kindness does not fade in the face of hardship.
From the center of the storm, he steadied himself quietly, meeting hostility with gentleness and answering doubt with steady persistence.
2021 marked a year of steady transformation for him.
In February, the fantasy costume drama Douluo Continent, in which he starred, aired on CCTV-8. He played Tang San, a determined and resilient character. The series performed strongly in both ratings and popularity, becoming a hit on CCTV.
In December, the military drama Ace Troops aired. He played Gu Yiye, a soldier, moving beyond his idol image and marking a major breakthrough with a strong, upright presence, earning recognition from both mainstream audiences and viewers.
That same year, he also stepped onto the theater stage, taking on the role of “Patient No. 5” in the Yanghua Theatre production of A Dream Like a Dream. Nearly a hundred performances helped his acting grow and mature.
In March 2022, the urban romance drama The Oath of Love aired on television. Xiao Zhan played Gu Wei, a gentle and composed surgeon. The character connected strongly with audiences, and the drama became one of the year’s biggest hits in its genre.
In 2023, he continued to broaden his range.
In June, the period drama The Youth Memories aired on CCTV. He played Xiao Chunsheng, a passionate and sincere young man, portraying the growth and perseverance of a generation with nuanced acting. The drama was well received both in ratings and word of mouth.
In July, the costume drama The Longest Promise aired. He played Shi Ying, a reserved and aloof priestly figure, combining an ethereal presence with solid acting.
In September, the urban drama Sunshine by My Side aired. He played Sheng Yang, a warm and optimistic newcomer in the advertising industry. His natural, grounded performance was widely praised.
In November 2024, Xiao Zhan released his first physical solo album, WM.
It was a sincere project, three years in the making, with his deep involvement in its creation. The album features 12 tracks, including Wild, Return, Go Ahead, Life of Us, and Beacon. Through music, he expresses his inner world, reflects his growth, and conveys a gentle yet steadfast strength.
As soon as it was released, the album achieved record-breaking sales, won multiple music awards, and several tracks topped major charts, becoming a milestone in his ten-year journey in music.
In 2025, he reached a new peak in both his career and public recognition.
In January, the wuxia film The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants, directed by Tsui Hark, was released. He played Guo Jing, a sincere and straightforward man devoted to his country and its people. The film was a major success both at the box office and with audiences, breaking records.
In May, the historical political drama The Legend of Zang Hai aired in CCTV’s prime time slot. He played Zang Hai, a restrained and highly intelligent character. With a layered and powerful performance, the drama topped both ratings and popularity charts.
In December, the war film Gezhi Town was released. He played Mo Dexian, once again taking on a completely new kind of role.
In 2026, Xiao Zhan won Best Actor for The Legend of Zang Hai, becoming the first actor born in the 1990s to receive this honor.
It also marked exactly ten years since he debuted as an amateur and began his journey as an actor.
Ten years of hardship have not cooled his passion; ten years of chasing the light have led him to his moment of glory.
From an amateur to Best Actor, he spent ten years turning every step into an answer of his own.
#XiaoZhan #肖战
There were just many tricky questions from media during that period, they really did tried hard to make him lost, upset, sad, cry, throw blames, sell pity stories or give bad answers so they can twist later.
But Xiao Zhan is Xiao Zhan, he just smile and answered every questions, looked up and straight, very calm and eloquents. sometimes laugh and joked, gave his best answers.
One of many things that I admire from XZ is his strong mentality and his brains.
Its not easy to be this calm and composed under very big pressure from every side during that period. Even we were not that strong and scared, but I remember looked at how XZ handle everything, we know things will go better and better, yes, here we are now ❤️
The full interview here https://t.co/SaTyna4p7E
2026.03.24 | ELLE weibo update.
— what was xiao zhan thinking one minute before the interview? 🤔
🐰: hello, friends of ELLE Beauty, my name is xiao zhan 👋🏻
🎤: what were you thinking about a minute ago?
🐰: um, i had something in mind just now, i was thinking about the setup here. it feels very artistic, almost like a show.
🎤: compared to other beauty events, have you had any different experiences?
🐰: this is the first time i participate in a beauty event, and it feels very fresh. and it was a lot of fun.
🎤: how have NARS’s new foundation products helped you?
🐰: of course, whenever we need makeup, i think having it helps me face any situation with confidence, without fear of challenges or scrutiny.
🎤: what qualities of NARS, a brand you’ve worked with for many years, attract you?
🐰: i think nars has always been great at breaking the rules while staying consistent, and that really aligns well with who i am.
🎤: how did you feel about participating in the event today?
🐰: like i just said, it’s my first time attending a beauty event, so i felt really curious. i’m also very happy. it’s been a great experience.
🎤: you’ve just finished a lot of events, could you describe your recent state?
🐰: there’s been a lot going on lately, with plenty of activities and work. i’m still in a working mode, but it feels quite fulfilling.
🎤: what’s the first thing you do after the event ends?
🐰: the first thing is to eat. haha! let’s go have something delicious.
#XiaoZhan #肖战
#XiaoZhanxNars
Another viral tweets with Xiao Zhan, already got 18k retweets and 1.2 M views ❤️
In 2020 interview, XZ was asked how he always polite, calm and composed, did he tried to be "perfect" ? Well, tricky questions from Sina media as always esp during that period
XZ :
【260315 Video】
#XiaoZhan1005NewsPort#XiaoZhan#肖战
SMG Television Series Quality Awards Weibo updated:
Xiao Zhan spoke about director Zheng Xiaolong's original intention and dedication to craftsmanship in television. His words were sincere and moving, full of respect.
2026.03.15
Xiao Zhan pays tribute to Director Zheng Xiaolong | 2026 SMG TV Series Quality Awards [ENG SUB]
🐰: Hello everyone, I am actor Xiao Zhan.
On life’s journey, there are companions, and there are also those who guide the way. Their stories always carry a different kind of energy.
Let us turn the clock back to 1982.
A university graduate full of passion, carrying the novel A Gentle Knock at the Door and the script Lilac Returns, with a pure longing for film and television, stepped into the Beijing Television Art Center.
Perhaps no one imagined that over the next forty years this young man would become a pioneer in Chinese television drama, moving forward without hesitation.
In 1988, at Jimen Hotel, he sat with several writers around a table. A few bowls of hot dumplings and conversations filled with creative passion gave rise to the project he planned and produced, China’s first long indoor TV drama, Yearnings.
From that moment on, television dramas truly entered countless households.
In 1993, he traveled overseas to bring the most authentic Native of Beijing in New York to the screen. When the drama aired, the streets were empty. People of an entire generation grew quiet and saw the road ahead more clearly.
In 2006, using a chronicle format where each episode covers one year, he broke away from conventional storytelling while carefully crafting Golden Marriage, giving the story of an ordinary family a power that speaks directly to the heart.
In 2010, Empresses in the Palace began filming, leaving behind countless classic scenes that people still talk about today.
On set, he listens carefully to every actor’s ideas and pays close attention to the details of performance and dialogue.
Through him, I came to understand what craftsmanship truly means: reverence and dedication to the craft. And perseverance is the steadfast protection of one’s original purpose.
Today, let us offer our most sincere respect to this artist who sowed hope when the industry was still developing and remained true to his original aspiration amid the noise of the times.
He is, in our hearts, a truly deserving craftsman of quality television drama, Director Zheng Xiaolong.
SMG BEST ACTOR XIAO ZHAN
#XiaoZhanOutstandingActorOTY #XiaoZhan
the fancam when xiao zhan is about to entering the seat section — omg 😳 the whole venue went crazy and they shouted his name IT WAS MAD LOUD haha. he shakes hands with sun li first and say 👋🏻 to bai jingting 😁
XIAO ZHAN SMG QUALITY AWARDS #XiaoZhanxZangHaiNight#XiaoZhan
This group of #XiaoZhan's Beijing #xfx wrote, directed, performed, and sang a cover of "Year After Year", the little video is so well made and heartwarming 🥰
cr: @北京豆汁儿小肥虾 on Weibo
https://t.co/xqhOVnk86a
I thought counting on the fingers of your hands was a common thing known even to illiterates...
Doesn't the hater say it in her own pic?
It's the new year countdown.
And they just counted down to 6 😂
Happy shrimps make pathethic people butthurt 🤣
"As the Four Seasons Turn, Meet Xiao Zhan in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter" will be published in ELLE Jan 2025 Issue.
https://t.co/HU7XHxP8Ls
#XiaoZhan#肖战#샤오잔#เซียวจ้าน#シャオ・ジャン#肖戦
Hello my dear XFX Fam! 😊 I just created a new page, “XFX + Xiao Zhan Encounters.” 🙂 Here you’ll find all the funny interactions between #XiaoZhan and his XFX over the years. For all the new XFX who missed those moments, now’s your chance to catch up! 😁
https://t.co/xqKS43Q6TC