Ding Yuxi (丁禹兮)

Ding Yuxi (simplified Chinese: 丁禹兮; born July 20, 1995), also known as Ryan Ding, is a Chinese actor. He was born in Shanghai, China, and graduated from the Directing Department of the Continuing Education College at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. In 2018, he participated in the acting competition show, I Actor, and emerged as the winner. He is known for the lead role in dramas such as The Romance of Tiger and Roses (2020), Moonlight (2021), Love You Seven Times (2023), White Cat Legend (2024), and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (2024). Ryan Ding Yuxi didn’t rise to fame through overnight luck — he built his career piece by piece, from a teenage extra on film sets to the winner of the reality competition The Actor’s Craft, and eventually to one of the most respected young actors of his generation. What makes him truly stand out is his “Jinjiang-style acting” — a term he himself coined with his performance in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy — which means bringing novel characters to life with such precision that audiences feel they have stepped right out of the pages. From the arrogant yet vulnerable Han Shuo in The Romance of Tiger and Rose to the emotionally complex Mu Sheng in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, Ding has proven himself a chameleon who can inhabit any role with depth and authenticity. Often described as the “most reliable young actor” in the industry, he has earned his place through sheer skill, not buzz.

Breakthrough Role Ding’s big break came in 2020 with two simultaneous hits: the modern romance Intense Love and the historical comedy The Romance of Tiger and Rose. In the latter, he played Han Shuo, the proud yet sickly prince of Xuanhu City, who is sent as a political hostage to the matriarchal Huayuan City. What could have been a one-note arrogant hero became a layered portrait of a man hiding his fragile heart beneath a cold exterior. The show became a sleeper hit and made Ding the “May boyfriend” of that year. His performance earned him the New Power Actor Award at the Guoju Shengdian and the Best Newcomer Award at the 2020 Tencent Entertainment White Paper ceremony, firmly establishing him as a leading man to watch. He followed this with acclaimed turns in Moonlight as the proud author Zhou Chuan, White Cat Legend as the half-cat detective Li Bing, and Melody of Golden Age as the powerful minister Shen Du. His versatility across genres — from historical romance to modern drama to fantasy — proved that his breakout was no fluke.

Public Perception Today, Ding Yuxi sits at a unique crossroads in the Chinese entertainment industry. He has earned widespread respect as an actor who “lets his work do the talking”, praised for his emotional range, his precise micro-expressions, and his ability to make even flawed characters deeply compelling. His 2024 performance as Mu Sheng in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy was hailed as a masterclass in “Jinjiang-style acting”, and the show kept him trending on social media for weeks. He followed this with the critically acclaimed historical drama The Pillow of the Mountains in 2025, where his portrayal of the young general Wei Yun was described as the “anchor of the entire show”. In 2026, his mystery drama Southern Archives — co-starring Zhang Xincheng — topped the charts, with his character Zhang Haixia surpassing 200 million in character热度 and the series reaching over 200 million views. Off-screen, Ding is known for his humility and high emotional intelligence: when a producer publicly commented that he “wasn‘t as hot this year,” he simply replied, “I’ll keep working hard”. He has also earned praise for his kindness — once saving a crew member on set — and his genuine connection with fans. However, his journey hasn‘t been without challenges. Some viewers have criticized his recent project choices, and his fanbase has occasionally been a source of controversy. Yet through it all, Ding Yuxi remains one of the most compelling figures in C-ent — an actor who proves that talent, perseverance, and authenticity can still win the day in an industry obsessed with fleeting fame.