Popularity for a Chinese drama star takes more than good looks and a loyal fan base. Whether audiences connect with an actor, whether his characters are likable and whether he comes across as approachable off screen all shape what Chinese fans call "audience affinity," the kind of goodwill that reaches beyond the fandom.
Some actors win viewers over with devoted romantic leads, some with natural, unaffected performances, and some stay famous through classic roles even when they are rarely on screen. In 2026, Zhang Linghe drew attention with the costume drama Pursuit of Jade, Xiao Zhan kept building buzz from Legend of Zang Hai, and Wang Yibo and Liu Yuning stayed in the spotlight through dramas, music and other projects.
A recent online poll ranked the 10 Chinese drama actors with the most "audience affinity." Here is who made the list.
Chinese stars' popularity has also become entangled with cross strait politics. Zhang Linghe, who placed third, drew a public invitation to Taiwan from opposition Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun earlier this year, but Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council later refused his entry, citing his past political remarks.
No. 10: Hou Minghao
Known For: Back From The Brink, I Am Nobody
Hou Minghao has won attention with a fresh, boyish image and a natural acting style. He built his profile with early dramas before playing Tianyao in the fantasy costume drama Back From the Brink, showing a devoted, resolute side that introduced him to a wider audience.
His strength is an approachable look that suits both lively youthful roles and more mysterious costume drama characters. As he has broadened his range, audiences have begun to see him as more than a teen idol. Buzz around his dramas rises and falls, but his friendly image and versatility have earned him plenty of goodwill.
No. 9: Allen Ren
Known For: The Glory Of Tang Dynasty, Under The Power, One And Only
Allen Ren is one of the most recognizable leading men in costume dramas, especially skilled at characters who look calm on the outside but feel deeply within. Lu Yi in Under the Power and Zhou Shengchen in One and Only are among his most talked about roles. The first has a proud, contradictory charm, while the second moves viewers with restrained, profound emotion.
His audience affinity comes from years of costume drama roles and his command of emotional scenes. He does not need exaggerated gestures, conveying a character's state of mind through his eyes and voice. He continues to headline costume and fantasy dramas, keeping his appeal for fans of devoted heroes and fated love stories.
No. 8: Yang Yang
Known For: Love O2O, The King's Avatar, You Are My Glory
Yang Yang rose to fame as Xiao Nai in Love O2O, then built an image as a handsome, composed leading man in You Are My Glory and The King's Avatar. He has played characters in campus, workplace, military and fantasy stories, building a broad audience.
His strength is how recognizable his roles are, whether an aloof top student, a professional gamer, a soldier or an immortality seeker. His recent fantasy drama based on A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality has also kept him in the conversation. Opinions of his acting vary, but years of fame and a steady fan base keep him among the most representative stars in Chinese drama.
No. 7: Bai Jingting
Known For: Reset, New Life Begins, Destined, The First Frost
Bai Jingting's appeal has much to do with his natural, unpolished acting. Starting with Fleet of Time, he steadily gained experience, then played Xiao Heyun in the suspense drama Reset, showing fear, struggle and growth in the face of crisis. New Life Begins revealed his lighthearted, humorous side.
The 2025 drama The First Frost brought him renewed attention from romance fans. His character Sang Yan is sharp tongued on the outside but deeply devoted, a contrast that became a talking point. His ability to move between suspense, costume and modern romance gives different audiences reasons to like him. Rather than relying on looks, he tends to win fans with the everyday realism and humor of his characters.
No. 6: Wang Yibo
Known For: The Untamed, Legend Of Fei, Luoyang, War Of Faith
Wang Yibo shot to fame as Lan Wangji in The Untamed. The character's reserved, restrained but loyal personality gave him a distinctive image. He went on to star in Legend of Fei, Luoyang and War of Faith, trying martial arts, costume mystery and period spy stories.
His appeal extends beyond acting to dancing, music, motor racing and outdoor exploration. A documentary series showed his passion for the outdoors, giving viewers a different side of him. For fans, his focus and work ethic are part of his charm. Opinions differ on his acting and role choices, but his cross industry image keeps him highly recognizable.
No. 5: Liu Yuning
Known For: The Long Ballad, A Journey To Love, The Story Of Pearl Girl
Liu Yuning started out as an online singer before moving into acting, becoming a Chinese drama star with a dual career as singer and actor. He won attention as Hao Du in The Long Ballad, with a cold exterior and a loyal heart, and A Journey to Love showed his presence as a costume drama lead.
His recent dramas have kept the buzz going. Part of his appeal comes from his cross over background: besides his acting, his singing and livestream interactions let fans see him off screen. Rather than relying only on an idol image, his story of rising through the ranks and his friendly manner are often why audiences keep following him.
No. 4: Dylan Wang
Known For: Meteor Garden, Love Between Fairy And Devil, Only For Love
Dylan Wang first became famous as Daoming Si in the 2018 remake of Meteor Garden, but his popularity truly soared with Love Between Fairy and Devil. His character Dongfang Qingcang was domineering, powerful and devoted, softening over the course of the story, and became a classic for many viewers.
His charm lies in a vivid personality, and off screen he comes across as lively and direct. He has continued to expand his costume drama roles and has also taken on a police detective role, trying to break away from his costume drama heartthrob image. Reviews of his work vary, but his distinct personal style and comic flair keep him a constant topic on social media.
No. 3: Zhang Linghe
Known For: Love Between Fairy And Devil, My Journey To You, Story Of Kunning Palace, The Princess Royal, Pursuit Of Jade
Zhang Linghe's popularity has been rising steadily. He first caught attention as the gentle, reserved Changheng in Love Between Fairy and Devil, then took on very different characters in My Journey to You and Story of Kunning Palace, gradually building his own identity.
In 2026, Pursuit of Jade, in which he stars with Tian Xiwei, became a hit. His character Xie Zheng combines a cold demeanor, a stoic personality and a tender side, and his chemistry with the female lead became a major talking point. Much of his audience affinity comes from the combination of character appeal and on screen image, especially among fans of costume romance, political intrigue and leading men with surprising contrasts. Media outlets have also named him among the most popular Chinese drama actors of 2026.
No. 2: Hu Ge
Known For: Chinese Paladin, Nirvana In Fire, The Disguiser, Blossoms Shanghai
Hu Ge is one of the most famous and accomplished actors in Chinese drama. He became a star as Li Xiaoyao in Chinese Paladin, then played Mei Changsu in Nirvana in Fire, successfully transforming from a youth idol into a respected actor. Ming Tai in The Disguiser showed his range in spy dramas.
More recently, Blossoms Shanghai sparked fresh discussion. His character A Bao, unlike his earlier costume roles, captured the human relationships and ups and downs of Shanghai's business world. His audience affinity does not rest on a single hit role but on years of work, a mature image and a willingness to try different genres. For many viewers, Hu Ge is both familiar and still able to surprise.
No. 1: Xiao Zhan
Known For: The Untamed, Douluo Continent, Ace Troops, The Youth Memories, Legend Of Zang Hai
Xiao Zhan rose to fame as Wei Wuxian in The Untamed, a character with youthful spirit, deep loyalty and a free personality that quickly won him a huge audience. He did not stay in costume idol dramas, going on to play a soldier in Ace Troops and a period character in The Youth Memories as he broadened his range.
Legend of Zang Hai, which aired in 2025, is one of his most watched recent works. His character Zang Hai carries a family vendetta and must choose between patience, strategy and emotion. The role differed from his earlier image and prompted renewed discussion of his acting and direction.
Xiao Zhan's audience affinity comes not only from the fame his dramas have brought, but also from the emotional resonance of his characters, sustained fan support and a varied choice of projects. His high favorability shows that he is well known and widely discussed beyond his fan base.
The Full Top 10 At A Glance
| Rank | Actor | Known For | What Audiences Like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xiao Zhan | The Untamed, Ace Troops, Legend of Zang Hai | Wide range across costume, modern and period dramas, with a broad fan base |
| 2 | Hu Ge | Nirvana in Fire, The Disguiser, Blossoms Shanghai | Mature, nuanced acting and a long record of strong reviews |
| 3 | Zhang Linghe | Story of Kunning Palace, The Princess Royal, Pursuit of Jade | Distinctive costume drama roles that have drawn many recent fans |
| 4 | Dylan Wang | Meteor Garden, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Only for Love | A vivid personal style and strong presence in dramas and variety shows |
| 5 | Liu Yuning | The Long Ballad, A Journey to Love, The Story of Pearl Girl | A singer turned actor whose costume roles are winning recognition |
| 6 | Wang Yibo | The Untamed, Legend of Fei, War of Faith | A multitalented image spanning drama, dance and film |
| 7 | Bai Jingting | Reset, New Life Begins, The First Frost | Convincing in roles from suspense to romance |
| 8 | Yang Yang | Love O2O, The King's Avatar, You Are My Glory | A strong screen presence that has drawn romance and costume drama fans |
| 9 | Allen Ren | The Glory of Tang Dynasty, Under the Power, One and Only | A rich costume drama catalog and nuanced devoted heroes |
| 10 | Hou Minghao | Back From the Brink, I Am Nobody | An expanding range in costume and fantasy dramas |
