Liu Zhiyang (刘智扬)

Liu Zhiyang is the ultimate actor’s actor. After graduating from the prestigious Central Academy of Drama, he honed his craft at the Beijing People's Art Theatre (BPAT) on plays like The Birdmen. While he gained a cult following playing the gentle, ghost-seeing convenience store clerk Xia Dongqing in the online sensation Soul Ferry, his true genius lies in his breathtaking range. He has convincingly played boy scouts, cunning Japanese collaborators, and even the multi-faceted Emperor Li Longji in Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty. In an industry built on instant fame, he represents a rarer path: a consummate professional of consistent excellence. Breakthrough Role Liu’s career-defining role is undoubtedly Xia Dongqing in the Soul Ferry series (2014). As the luckless orphan running a convenience store, his performance blends innocence and timidity with searing emotional depth. The show became a cult phenomenon, earning him the inaugural "Most Popular Actor in an Online Drama" award and creating an iconic character to which he is forever tied. However, his versatility often sees him recognized for multiple breakthrough roles, including the passionate yet stubborn forest ranger Feng Cheng in Blooming Youth, which earned him the Golden Oak Award for Best Actor and a nomination at the prestigious Feitian Awards. Public Perception Liu is a beloved figure of quiet admiration, widely seen as a wholesome "old-school" actor. He is a BPAT actor renowned for his dedication to the stage, and his enduring partnership with director Guo Jingyu is a testament to his reliability and talent. Off-screen, he won the internet by marrying his childhood sweetheart, born on the same day and year, creating a fairy-tale story in an industry full of scandals. Recent years have brought a career resurgence, with his nuanced and chilling portrayal of Emperor Li Longji in Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty (2025) earning a new generation of fans and solidifying his status as a legendary talent.