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 October 5, 1991), also known as Sean Xiao, is a famous Chinese actor and singer. He started his journey in entertainment on a TV show called X-Fire. Later, he became a member of the Chinese boy group X Nine.

Xiao Zhan began acting in 2016. He quickly became very popular for his roles in TV dramas. Some of his most well-known shows include The Untamed (2019), Joy of Life (2019), and Douluo Continent (2021). He has won many awards for his acting.

As a singer, Xiao Zhan released a digital song called "Spotlight" in April 2020. This song sold over 25 million copies in just 24 hours! It even set a Guinness World Record for being the fastest-selling digital song in China. In 2021, he also performed in a long play called A Dream Like a Dream.

Early Life and Education

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

During his time at university, he was active in school groups. He was part of the class's literature committee. He also sang in the school choir. In 2012, he started a photography studio with his friends. He was the main photographer. Before he became famous, he worked as a photographer and graphic designer.

Music Career

How Xiao Zhan Started in Music

In 2015, a teacher suggested Xiao Zhan try out for a TV show. The show was called X-Fire. It was a reality show where 16 contestants trained to become idols. He also appeared on a show called Teen Channel.

His first big performance was in 2016. He sang with his teammates at a New Year Concert. Later that year, he officially joined a group called X Nine. There were 8 other members in the group. Xiao Zhan was the main singer. They released their first mini-album, X玖, in September 2016.

Singing for TV Shows

Xiao Zhan has sung many songs for the TV dramas he starred in. In 2018, he sang "踩影子" (Stepping on Shadows) for Oh! My Emperor. He also acted in that show.

For The Untamed, he sang "曲尽陈情" (Song Ends with Chen Qing). He also sang "无羁" (Unrestrained) with another actor. He sang the ending song "余年" (Remaining Years) for Joy of Life. In 2021, he sang "策马正少年" (Righteous Youth on Horseback) for his drama Douluo Continent.

"Spotlight" and Global Success

On April 25, 2020, Xiao Zhan released his digital song "Spotlight" (光点). This song became a massive hit. It sold over 54 million copies in total. It holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling digital song in China. It's also the biggest-selling digital single ever.

In March 2021, "Spotlight" was named the 7th best-selling digital single globally. This was by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The song was later released worldwide on iTunes in November 2022. It was renamed "Made to Love". It quickly reached high spots on music charts in many countries.

Acting Career

Early Roles (2016–2018)

Xiao Zhan started his acting career in 2016. He played the main character, Fang Tian Ze, in Super Star Academy. This series was very popular, getting over 1.6 billion views. He also had small roles in movies like Monster Hunt 2 and The Rookies.

In 2018, he gained more attention in Oh! My Emperor. He played a prince named Beitang Moran. The show was loved for its funny and romantic story. It had over 3.5 billion views. He also appeared in the fantasy drama Battle Through the Heavens.

Becoming a Star (2019–2020)

In 2019, Xiao Zhan became super famous with The Untamed. He starred with Wang Yibo in this fantasy drama. He played Wei Wuxian, a character who changes a lot throughout the story. His acting was highly praised. The show became incredibly popular, getting over 10 billion views. It also gained a huge fan base worldwide when it came to Netflix.

That same year, he starred in the movie Jade Dynasty. The movie was a big success in China. It also set a record in Thailand as the highest-grossing Chinese movie in 10 years. In November 2019, he appeared in the historical drama Joy of Life. He played a supporting role named Yan Bingyun.

In 2020, Xiao Zhan starred in The Wolf. This show was also very popular in China. It had over 1 billion views across different platforms. Towards the end of 2020, he filmed a new drama called Ace Troops. He played a young soldier named Gu Yi Ye.

Growing Popularity (2021–Present)

In February 2021, the drama Douluo Continent was released. Xiao Zhan played the main character, Tang San. This show was very successful, with over 5.7 billion views. It was also shown in Japan, Thailand, and the US.

In March 2021, he was cast as Shi Ying in the historical drama The Longest Promise. This show premiered in July 2023 and quickly became very popular. It topped charts and gained millions of views. It was even released on Netflix.

In December 2021, Ace Troops aired. The show was well-received and boosted viewership for the TV channels it aired on. In March 2022, his highly anticipated drama The Oath of Love began broadcasting. It received many positive reviews and reached 4 billion views in just 37 days.

In May 2023, it was announced that Xiao Zhan would play Guo Jing. This is a main character in a new movie based on the famous novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. In June 2023, The Youth Memories aired. This show was also very successful, with high TV ratings. In September 2023, Sunshine by My Side aired. It set a record for CCTV's highest ratings in five years.

Stage Shows

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

On April 22, 2021, Xiao Zhan made his debut in a play called A Dream Like a Dream. He played the main character, Patient No. 5. His first performance was a special tribute to medical staff and volunteers in Wuhan. He continued to perform this role in many other cities. His fans showed huge support by sending many flower stands to the theater. Xiao Zhan's studio later asked for the flowers to be given to the people of Wuhan.

Other Ventures

Product Endorsements

Xiao Zhan is very popular for endorsing (promoting) products. After the success of The Untamed, many brands wanted to work with him. Between 2019 and 2020, he partnered with 19 different brands. These included drinks, washing products, jewelry, and fashion magazines. Many of these brands saw their sales break records because of him.

By 2023, he was known as the "King of Luxury" endorsements. He secured deals with big international brands like Gucci, Tod's, Zenith, and Ralph Lauren. He also worked with beauty brands like Yves Saint Laurent Beauty and Nars. He even partnered with the luxury carmaker SAIC Audi.

He has been a brand ambassador for many other popular brands. These include Li-Ning, Dettol, Zwilling, Tencent Video, WeTV, Loreal professional, PEPSI, Extra Gum, and Dove Chocolate. In 2023, he was named the most beloved celebrity endorser.

Commercial Influence

Xiao Zhan has a big impact on sales. When he became the brand endorser for Estée Lauder's beauty line, their sales broke previous records. In 2022, after he became the spokesperson for Audi, their monthly sales went over 200 million yuan in one month. When he partnered with NARS, their sales on the first day reached nearly 80 million yuan.

In April 2023, he became a PEPSI brand spokesperson. Within an hour, sales on one platform went over 50,000. By the end of April, sales exceeded 100 million yuan. This set a new record for the brand. His influence also helped brands like L'Oréal PRO and Yves Saint Laurent see huge sales increases.

Recognitions

Xiao Zhan has received many honors and recognitions. In 2019, Forbes China included him in their "30 Under 30 Asia" list. This list features 30 influential people under 30. He has often topped various popularity charts.

He was named "Most Handsome Faces in Asia" in 2019 and 2020. TCC Candler also placed him among the "Most Handsome Faces in the World" for four years in a row. In 2022, Nubia Magazine named him the "Most Handsome Man of 2022". In 2023, he was ranked second on the list of the most handsome men in the world. He was also named one of the "Top 10 Chinese Actors to Watch in 2023".

Philanthropy

Xiao Zhan has also been involved in charity work. In 2016, he donated 17,000 Yuan to an animal care center. This money helped buy cat nests to keep stray cats warm in winter.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Xiao Zhan Studio donated medical supplies and equipment to hospitals. In 2021, he donated 1 million Yuan to help with flood relief in Henan province.

In 2022, he donated 500,000 Yuan to support efforts against the epidemic in Shanghai. This money helped buy food and supplies for people in need. In September 2022, his studio donated 1 million Yuan to the Red Cross Society. This was to help with earthquake relief in Sichuan province.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Theatre

Short film

Television show

Discography

Awards and Nominations

Other Recognitions

See also

In Spanish: Xiao Zhan para niños