So I know which K-stars are popular in Japan but now I also know which C-stars, and it’s none other than Xiao Zhan at the top. Japan publishes an annual Chinese Period Drama Magazine issue once a year covering the past year’s period C-dramas so Japanese fans have recommendations and know what was good/popular. This year the cover model was Xiao Zhan which is a huge deal because all prior year’s there was no single star (actor or actress) featured on the cover which was instead just drama stills and blurbs. Xiao Zhan’s dramas The Untamed and Duoluo Continent are the one and two best selling Chinese dramas DVDs in Japan and all his dramas have been purchased by Japanese networks for airing. This year’s issue featured his 2023 drama The Longest Promise which also broadcast in Japan recently.
This Japanese magazine named Xiao Zhan as China’s national treasure 😂 But yeah, if someone asks me to compare Xiao Zhan to an object, I will pick jade. There’s a Chinese phrase called 温润如玉 and Xiao Zhan is the embodiment of it, his studio just released another vlog of his Europe trip today and his demeanour reminds me of jade again.
I have been watching his vlog… I miss him on our screen. I do hope to see him soon.
I like Xiao Zhan and hope the best for him. He is like a Jade expressed in may Chinese novels.
I just read Trump’s assassination news which unsettled me…Not his fan but such deeds are just wrong. I am happy to read Xiao Zhan’s news right after.
I’m sure his projects will be worth the wait, looking forward to his LOCH movie and Legend of Zanghai.
@Lilth, I agree… I am sure it is all worthwhile…in meantime I will rewatch his other dramas..
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Lovely. I am really looking forward to his new drama.
I think oath of love aired in japan earlier this year.
Congrats to xiao zhan
It’s not just untamed that sold well. Ool did too but actually so did The longest promise, the blu ray stats were great. They also showed Youth Memories episodes in cinemas. They broadcast Ace troops. Showing both of these, due to the subject matter, is unusual.
There is a lot of water in China and everyone is a “star”. But data in Japan isn’t watered and it becomes very clear really fast who has the name recognition and who sells. Others will just have to cope.
I know him only from Untamed and sorry for being shallow but he’s so good looking lol. Didn’t realize he’s popular but makes sense.
He doesn’t look that good in this cover. Or maybe I just find him gorgeous in costume dramas.
I agree. I think many Chinese actors only look amazing in period dramas because of the styling and whatnot. In modern dramas, they look unbalanced because their bodies are way too skinny 😔
South Korean actors have better body proportions or ratio. But Chinese actors have better facial features.
He actually has been working out every day. He looks thin cos I think he’s got smaller and thin skeleton. But he does have muscles. He posted quite a few workout pics and vlogs to showcase his muscles. Fans were bewildered. LOL.
Chinese ppl do expect actors to look extra delicate and fairy like in costume. Even when I thought some looked fine in the costume dramas, Chinese netizens were still scathing about how they looked overweighed and unfitting. That may explain why some of them look unhealthily scrawny without the costume. LOL.
Interesting to find Duoluo Continent so popular in Japan. The only thing in that drama worth my time is Xiao Zhan himself who always tried his best to deliver even though everything else is not to his advantage. LOL. DC had one of the worst Female leads in XZ’s dramas. I heard that the drama was a huge commercial success for Tencent (?) that has been always the case for most of XZ’s dramas in China regardless of the quality.
Anyhow, XZ has the quality to be an international star. It’s not surprising he has many international fans including me although he is very low key outside China, unlike Hallyu stars or Kpop idols. I ignored Youtube AI recommendation for The Untamed back in 2019-2020 cos not a fan of BL dramas. But the recommendations of international fans making tons of TU clips drew my attention. I was really bored after watching Nirvina in Fire and Ashes of Love, looking for something else in C costume drama to kill time during the pandemic. The first ep of TU failed me that I tried to watch but gave up the drama so many times. Surprisingly after I pressed through ep3, I was addicted and binged the remaining 47 eps, and rewatched from time to time.
I appreciated XZ in Our Song and liked his acting in Oath of Love although OoL wasn’t a very good drama IMO. But it was TU that cemented me as his huge fan. So far, I still consider The Untamed and Nirvana in Fire the two best C dramas I’ve ever watched. Both dramas have the qualities to appeal to international fans who oftentimes can’t bear with slow pace and empty, boring, lecturing-oriented plots of C dramas. Yes, I’m selling these two dramas to anyone who has low exposure to C drama and is interested in taking a look. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for romance to fantasize and feel good about, skip these two dramas. Try something else. There are plenty. LOL
XZ’s public persona appears like “jade” exuding a gentle and mellow image among all jewelry. Agreed as a lot of fans suggest. But his on screen image could be wild and unpredictable like Wei Wuxian in The Untamed. His characters after WWX were all more on the righteous side. I actually miss something like WWX, more of a grey character and an antihero. He did a fantastic job as WWX. Not sure about Legend of Zanghai. I hope this new drama makes him shine like WWX again.
I hope we can watch the Legend of the Condor Heroes outside China.
I was wondering when you would pop up to comment on this… Busy morning?
UK time, I woke up to read Trump shooting incident, was shock. Not a Trump fan but I was really shock but yet no surprised. Then I opened my Mac and saw Xiao Zhan in Koala…that made my day.
I think there may be a 1-2mths or more delay till you find the movie online…
Yup! Big news now in the US. The security measures set up by the Secret Agents are worrisome. Remember the deceased former Japan Prime Minister, Mr. Abe, who was also assassinated by a lunatic gunman in a public event? The world is so chaotic that dramas have become even more appealing as a hiding place. At least I found an escape from unrealistic fantasy in dramas. LOL.
If some streaming sites purchase XZ’s movie, that will be great. But Chinese movies aren’t as popular as dramas.
XZ has been very low key and quiet these days. I don’t see any of his public appearance on screen besides his commercials and vlogs, which I love.
I just finished Blossom in Adversity. If I can’t find anything else fun to watch (that is most likely), I’ll either pick up The Untamed again or watch some old K dramas on my bucket list.
I responded to you earlier but the comment was blocked? It’s so odd that some of my much lengthier comments showed up immediately while other shorter comments aren’t until after one or two days. It’s puzzling what standards this site has been using to moderate comments.
@Somebody, 🤣🤣🤣 I know what you mean.
@Somebody, I was reminded of My Abe… He was killed. It was shocking.
To be honest, I am also unsure we can watch Xiao Zhan’s movie in streaming sites too. But in 2mths after movie released, it will on long haul flights. 🤣🤣
Bravo & Congrats to Xiao Zhan!! I’m so happy to hear XZ d First C-star featured in Japan maz cover ..so looking forward to his movie n drama ^_*:))