Xiao Zhan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Xiao Zhan
Zhan in January 2020
Born	(1991-10-05) 5 October 1991 (age 33) Chongqing, China
Alma mater	Modern International Art Design Academy, Chongqing Technology and Business University
Occupation	Actor singer
Years active	2015–present
Height	183.6 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Musical career
Genres	Mandopop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Xiao Zhan Studio
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	肖戰
Simplified Chinese	肖战
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiāo Zhàn IPA [ɕi̯áu̯ ʈʂân]

Xiao Zhan (Chinese: 肖战, born on October 5, 1991), also known as Sean Xiao, is a famous Chinese actor and singer. He started his journey in entertainment in 2015 on a TV show called X-Fire. He then joined a Chinese boy group named X Nine.

Xiao Zhan became very popular after starring in the fantasy drama The Untamed in 2019. He also appeared in other popular dramas like Joy of Life (2019), The Wolf (2020), and Douluo Continent (2021). His movies include Jade Dynasty (2019) and Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (2025).

As a singer, Xiao Zhan released a song called "Spotlight" in 2020. This song set a Guinness World Record for being the highest-selling digital song of all time. It was also the fastest-selling digital track and the biggest-selling digital song in China.

Early Life and Education

Xiao Zhan was born in Chongqing, China, on October 5, 1991. When he was a child, he began learning to paint and play the violin. He went to the Modern International Art Design Academy at Chongqing Technology and Business University.

At university, he was very active in arts. He was part of the choir and led the vocal music department. He even won an award as one of the top ten singers on campus. In 2012, he started a photography studio with friends. He worked as their main photographer. Before becoming an entertainer, he also worked as a graphic designer.

Music Career

In 2015, Xiao Zhan joined a TV show called X-Fire. On this show, he trained to become an idol. He also appeared on a show called Teen Channel by Tencent. His first performance was at the 2016 Zhejiang TV New Year Concert.

In 2016, he officially debuted with 8 other members in a group called X Nine. He was the main singer of the group. They released their first mini-album in September 2016. In 2017, X Nine held its first concert in Shanghai. The group also won the "Most Popular Group of the Year" award.

In 2018, Xiao Zhan sang a song for the drama Oh! My Emperor, which he also acted in. From 2019 to 2022, he sang many songs for the dramas he starred in. These included "Song Ends with Chen Qing" for The Untamed and "Remaining Years" for Joy of Life. He also sang for Douluo Continent and The Oath of Love.

From late 2019 to early 2020, Xiao Zhan was a regular on a singing show called Our Song. On this show, older singers teamed up with younger singers.

On April 25, 2020, Xiao Zhan released his digital song "Spotlight". This song sold over 54 million copies. It became the highest-selling digital song of all time. It also set a Guinness World Record for being the fastest-selling digital track in China. In March 2021, "Spotlight" was named the 7th best-selling digital song globally by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

In late 2020, Xiao Zhan performed on the finale of Actors, please Stand By. He also sang two songs at the Tencent Video All Star Awards 2020. These songs were theme songs for his drama The Oath of Love.

On November 18, 2022, "Spotlight" was released worldwide on iTunes. It was renamed "Made to Love". The song quickly became popular in many countries. It topped sales charts in places like Canada, Japan, and the United States.

On December 11, 2024, Xiao Zhan released his first physical music album called "We". It has 12 songs. The album sold over 50 million Chinese Yuan within four minutes of its release. It is the best-selling album ever on the TME Physical Album Sales Chart.

Acting Career

Early Roles (2015–2018)

Xiao Zhan started his acting career in 2016. He starred in the series Super Star Academy. This show was watched over 1.68 billion times on Tencent. He also had small roles in movies like Monster Hunt 2 and The Rookies.

In 2018, he played a main role in the web drama Oh! My Emperor. He played Beitang Moran, a gentle prince. The show was very popular and helped him gain recognition. He also appeared in the drama Battle Through the Heavens.

Becoming a Star (2019–2020)

In 2019, Xiao Zhan starred in the fantasy drama The Untamed. He played Wei Wuxian, a character who changes from carefree to tormented. His acting received great reviews. The series became very popular and was watched over 10 billion times by December 2021. It also gained many fans overseas when it came to Netflix.

In August 2019, Xiao Zhan was cast in the romance drama The Oath of Love. He played Gu Wei, a kind doctor. In the same year, he starred in the movie Jade Dynasty. This movie was number one at the China box office on its first day. It earned over 400 million Chinese Yuan. In Thailand, it became the highest-earning Chinese movie in 10 years.

In September 2019, Xiao Zhan started his own studio, "XZ STUDIO". In November, he appeared in the historical drama Joy of Life.

In 2020, Xiao Zhan starred in The Wolf. This series quickly became very popular in China. It had over 500 million views in 11 days. By December 2020, it had over 1 billion views.

Growing Popularity (2021–2022)

In February 2021, the drama Douluo Continent was released. Xiao Zhan played the main character, Tang San. This drama was very successful in China, with 5.70 billion views. It was one of the most successful dramas based on popular books.

On April 22, 2021, Xiao Zhan performed on stage for the first time in the play A Dream Like a Dream. He played Patient No. 5. He continued to perform this role in many cities.

In December 2021, the military drama Ace Troops aired. It was very well-received. In March 2022, his highly anticipated drama The Oath of Love began airing. This drama was a big success, reaching 4 billion views in just 37 days.

Recent Works (2023–Present)

In May 2023, Xiao Zhan was confirmed to play Guo Jing in a new movie based on the famous novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

On June 1, 2023, The Youth Memories aired. This show was very popular, with high TV ratings. It was the first show in 2023 to reach over 30,000 popularity points on Tencent Video.

On July 2, 2023, The Longest Promise premiered. It quickly became the top trending topic on Weibo. It also became one of the most popular series in many countries, including the United States and Canada.

On September 1, 2023, Sunshine by My Side aired. It set a record for CCTV's highest ratings in five years. In December, Xiao Zhan began filming a new drama called Zang Hai Zhuan.

In 2025, Xiao Zhan is set to star in the movie Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants.

Stage Shows

In 2020, Xiao Zhan appeared at the CCTV New Year's Gala for the first time. He performed a skit called Like You Like Me.

On April 22, 2021, Xiao Zhan made his first appearance in a play, A Dream Like a Dream. The first show honored volunteers and medical staff in Wuhan. He played the main character, Patient No. 5. He has continued to perform this role in many cities. This play was ranked number one for ticket sales in the Theater Category in 2021.

Fans from all over the world sent many flowers to the theater for his first play. Xiao Zhan's studio then asked for the flowers to be given to the people of Wuhan.

Other Ventures

Endorsements

Xiao Zhan is a very popular brand ambassador. After the success of The Untamed, he partnered with many brands. These included Budweiser, Braun, Olay, and Estée Lauder. Many of these brands broke their sales records because of him.

By 2023, he was known as the "King of Luxury" for his many deals with luxury brands. These include Gucci, Tod's, Zenith, Ralph Lauren, and Audi. He also works with beauty brands like Yves Saint Laurent Beauty and Nars Cosmetics.

He is also an ambassador for brands like Li-Ning, Dettol, Zwilling, Tencent Video, WeTV, Loreal professional, and PEPSI. In 2023, he was named the most beloved celebrity endorser. In 2024, he partnered with Miiow, Shuke, Angle, Yuanqi Forest, and Eve Lom.

Recognitions

Xiao Zhan has received many awards and recognitions. In 2019, Forbes China listed him as one of their "30 Under 30 Asia". This list includes 30 influential people under 30.

He has topped many popularity charts since his breakthrough. He was named one of the "Most Handsome Faces in Asia" in 2019 and 2020. He was also listed among the "Most Handsome Faces in the World" by TCC Candler for several years.

In 2023, Xiao Zhan was ranked second on a list of the most handsome men in the world. He was also chosen as the number one "Top 10 Chinese Actors to Watch in 2023" by Enstar. In 2024, Nubia Magazine placed him second as "Most Handsome Men in the World".

Philanthropy

Helping Others

Xiao Zhan has been involved in charity work since 2015. In 2016, he donated money to help stray cats stay warm in winter.

In 2019, he supported projects like "Book Road Project" to help students get e-books. He also called attention to children with autism.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Xiao Zhan's studio donated medical supplies and equipment to hospitals. In February 2020, he sang a charity song to support those fighting the epidemic. He also helped promote economic recovery in Hubei province.

In 2021, he donated 1 million Chinese Yuan (about US$210,000) to help with flood relief in Henan province. In 2022, he donated 500,000 Chinese Yuan to support epidemic prevention in Shanghai. He also donated 1 million Chinese Yuan to help with earthquake relief in Sichuan province.

Ambassador Roles

In 2020, Xiao Zhan became the promotional ambassador for the Beijing Television Spring Gala. He also became a "Poverty Alleviation Product Experience Officer" to help promote farm products from Yu County.

In 2021, he joined the Shanghai Public Security Bureau's Anti-Fraud Alliance. He helped spread awareness against online scams. He also became an ambassador for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, promoting ice hockey.

On September 10, 2022, Xiao Zhan was named the Hangzhou Asian Games Public Welfare Dream Ambassador. He also sang the Asian Games song "We Are All Heading For A Better Future".

Filmography

Film

Television Series

Theatre

Short Film

Television Show

Discography

Awards and Nominations

Other Recognitions

See also

In Spanish: Xiao Zhan para niños