Chen Xiao (, born 5 July 1987) is a Chinese actor. He is known for his roles in TV series Swordsman (2013), Legend of Lu Zhen (2013), The Romance of the Condor Heroes (2014), Nothing Gold Can Stay (2017), A Dream of Splendor (2022), and Legend of the Magnate (2025).
Chen ranked 93rd on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2014, and 74th in 2015.
Early life and education Chen Xiao was born into a family of civil servants in Hefei, Anhui. At the age of 10, he was cast in his first television series Our Class Song (1997). Chen graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2009.
Career 2009–2012: Beginnings In 2009, Chen signed with his first agency Huayi Brothers. He then featured in the film Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, directed by Tsui Hark. The same year, he appeared in the television series Spell of the Fragrance produced by Yu Zheng. Chen continued to appear in several television series under Yu Zheng, but only official signed a contract with him after starring in Beauties of the Emperor. Chen started to gain attention as an actor in the 2012 hit palace drama Palace II where his portrayal of the 19th prince attracted positive audience reviews.
2013–2016: Rising popularity Chen rose to fame with his role of Lin Pingzhi in the 2013 wuxia television series Swordsman, which was adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. He then played his first leading role in historical drama Legend of Lu Zhen, where he took on the role of a wise and devoted Emperor. The series was both a domestic and overseas hit, and led to increased recognition for Chen.
In 2014, he starred in wuxia romance drama The Romance of the Condor Heroes, playing Yang Guo. Chen's portrayal of the character earned praised by fans of the original novel by Louis Cha, which further raised his popularity. He also featured in wuxia film The Taking of Tiger Mountain directed by Tsui Hark; playing a young and hot-blooded policeman. He was nominated at the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2015, Chen co-starred in historical romance drama Love Yunge from the Desert, adapted from the novel Song in the Clouds by Tong Hua. Despite the mixed reviews and criticism for the series, Chen received acclaim for his performance as a clumsy assassin.
In 2016, Chen starred in the coming-of-age web series Who Sleeps My Bro, which gained a large following online and became a cult classic. The same year, he starred in wuxia drama The Three Heroes and Five Gallants, based on the novel of the same name by Shi Yukun; playing Bai Yutang. Chen was nominated for the Best Actor award in the ancient drama category at the Huading Awards.
2017–present: Acclaim In 2017, Chen starred alongside Sun Li in the historical drama Nothing Gold Can Stay, which earned high ratings of 3%. Chen received acclaim for his performance and experienced a resurgence of popularity. In 2019, Chen starred alongside Joe Chen in the historical television series Queen Dugu, playing the role of the Emperor Wen of Sui. The same year, he starred in road-trip suspense drama Love Journey directed and written by Mao Weining. Chen played an undercover cop who appears frivolous but is serious and passionate about his job, and received positive reviews for his performance. He then starred in romance suspense film Lost in Love directed by Huo Jianqi, as well as military drama The King of Land Battle. In 2022, he starred in the hit show A Dream of Splendor, along with Liu Yifei.
In 2025, his historical drama Legend of the Magnate alongside Sun Qian, recorded an overall rating of 3.5% on CCTV-8, and exceeded over 8,500 popularity index points on IQIYI.
Personal life Chen Xiao married his The Romance of the Condor Heroes co-star Michelle Chen in 2016. Their son was born in the same year. On 18 February 2025, they announced that they had divorced.
Filmography Film YearEnglish titleChinese titleRole2010Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame 狄仁傑之通天帝國Lu LiGuest appearance 2013The Palace 宮鎖沉香Yinxiang 2014The Taking of Tiger Mountain 智取威虎山Gao Bo Special appearance 2015Bride Wars 新娘大作战Kai Wen 2016Who Sleeps My Bro 睡在我上铺的兄弟Lin Xiangyu2017 The Mysterious Family 神秘家族Shu Shu The Founding of an Army 建军大业Ren Bishi 2019 Lost in Love 如影随心 Lu Song 2021 Handsome Man 嗨！美男子 A'mai Joins the Army 阿麦从军
Television series YearEnglish titleChinese titleRoleNetwork 1997Our Class Song 我们班的歌Sun Dong 2010Happy Mother-in-Law, Pretty Daughter-in-Law 欢喜婆婆俏媳妇Guo Xiaotian Shenzhen TV Spell of the Fragrance 國色天香He Kun Hunan TV 2011Confucius 孔子Song Chao Shandong TV Hidden Intention 被遺棄的秘密Zhang DaiweiHunan TV Cameo2012Palace II 宮鎖珠簾Yunxi Beauties of the Emperor 王的女人Luo FengZhejiang TV The Bounty Hunter 賞金獵人Bai Shaoqun Hunan TV The Qin Empire II: Alliance大秦帝國之縱橫Mi Yan CCTV Cameo2013Swordsman 笑傲江湖Lin PingzhiHunan TV Legend of Lu Zhen 陸貞傳奇Gao ZhanLongmen Express 龍門鏢局Miao XingrenAnhui TV Cameo East Mountain School 東山學堂Xiao YangCCTV Ex 我的极品是前任 Sohu TV Cameo2014Palace 3: The Lost Daughter宮鎖連城SamanHunan TV CameoThe Romance of the Condor Heroes 神鵰俠侶Yang Guo / Yang Kang 2015Love Yunge from the Desert 大漢情緣之雲中歌Liu XunWonder Lady 极品女士 Shasha's friend Sohu TV Cameo2016 Who Sleeps My Bro 睡在我上铺的兄弟Lin Xiangyu LeTV The Three Heroes and Five Gallants 五鼠鬧東京Bai YutangAnhui TV 2017 Love & Life & Lie 遇见爱情的利先生Li Yaonan Zhejiang TV The Qin Empire III 大秦帝国之崛起 Mi Yan CCTV Above the Clouds 云巅之上 Tang Fei iQIYI Nothing Gold Can Stay 那年花开月正圆 Shen Xingyi Dragon TV, Jiangsu TV Wild Rose 红蔷薇 Xiao Junhao Jiangsu TV 2019 Queen Dugu 独孤皇后 Yang Jian iQIYI, Youku, Tencent Love Journey 一场遇见爱情的旅行 Jin Xiaotian Jiangsu TV, Zhejiang TV The King of Land Battle陆战之王 Zhang Nengliang Dragon TV, Zhejiang TV 2020 Healer of Children了不起的儿科医生Deng Zi AngBeijing TV, Shenzhen TV 2021 Shuke and Peach Blossom 舒克与桃花 Shu Ke Mango TV Faith Makes Great 理想照耀中国 He Jingping Hunan TV Refinement of Faith百炼成钢Qu Qiubai Hunan TV People's Property 突围Qin Xiaochong Dragon TV, Zhejiang TV 2022Simmer Down 好好说话 Yang GuangHunan TV A Dream Of Splendor 梦华录 Gu Qianfan Tencent Video Being a Hero 冰雨火 Wu Zhenfeng Hunan TV 2023Thirteen Years of Dust 尘封十三载 Lu Xingzhi iQIYI The Road of Life 人生之路 Gao Jialin CCTV, iQIYI The Ingenious One 云襄传 Yun Xiang IQIYI Incomparable Beauty 无与伦比的美丽 Xu Yao Jiangsu TV, Dragon TV, Mango TV2024Simple Days小日子Zhu JingcaoDragon TV, Zhejiang TV, TencentMr. Dilicious, Miss Match火柴小姐的美味先生Mo YuZTVFilmed in 20162025Legend of the Magnate大生意人Gu PingyuaCCTV, iQIYITBAThings Being Hidden隐瞒之事TBAYouku
Short film YearEnglish titleChinese titleRole2013 King of Sheng 圣王 Yang Qi The Return of the Condor Heroes 神雕侠侣 Yang Guo 2016 A Hug Let Us Be Less Lonely 给孩子们一个拥抱，爱让我们不孤单
Music video appearances YearSong titleSinger 2013 "Dearest" 亲爱的 Liu Xin 2015 "Heaven and Earth" 天地 Lin Peng
Theater YearEnglish titleChinese titleRole2007 Red Rose and White Rose 红玫瑰白玫瑰 Tong Zhenbao The Puppet Master 玩偶之家 Lodging on Lotus Hill for a Snowy Night 风雪夜归人 Wei Liansheng Lust, Caution 色·戒 Mr. Yi 2008 Prometheus Bound 被缚的普罗米修斯 Prometheus
Discography Soundtrack appearances Year AlbumEnglish titleChinese titleNotes/ 2012 Legend of Lu Zhen OST "Mood" 心情 with Zhao Liying 2013 "Sheng Wang" 圣王 Promotional song for Sheng Wang CF2014 Romance of the Condor Heroes OST "You and Me" 你我 with Michelle Chen "Sixteen Years" 十六年 with Liu Xin 2015 "Love Like First Sight" 爱如初见 Promotional song for Romance of the Condor Heroes CFwith Michelle ChenBride Wars OST "Today You Will Marry Me" 今天你要嫁给我 with Angelababy, Ni Ni & Zhu Yawen 2017 Above the Clouds OST "Comedy Before Sadness" 悲前喜剧
Bibliography Year English titleChinese title 2013晨晓——眉眼之间
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2012 Chinese Campus Art Glory Festival Most Popular Idol Actor 2013 2nd Asian Idol Awards Most Promising Actor BQ Celebrity Score Awards Popular Idol Award Youku Young Choice Awards Most Popular Actor (Mainland China) 5th China TV Drama Awards Most Marketable Young Actor Legend of Lu Zhen 2014 Weibo Award Ceremony Weibo Popularity Award 2016 Weibo God 33rd Hundred Flowers AwardsBest Supporting ActorThe Taking of Tiger Mountain 201722nd Huading AwardsBest Actor (Ancient Drama) The Three Heroes and Five Gallants Asian Influence Awards CeremonyBest Actor 14th Esquire Man At His Best AwardsOutstanding Mainland Artist 2018 24th Huading AwardsBest Actor (Period Drama) Wild Rose3rd China Television Drama Quality Ceremony Most Popular Actor (Web)Nothing Gold Can StayAudience's Favorite Quality Star 2019 26th Beijing College Student Film Festival Favorite Actor Lost in Love 6th The Actors of China Award Ceremony Best Actor (Emerald Category)Love JourneyGolden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival Best ActorLove Journey, The King of Land Battle 20207th The Actors of China Award CeremonyBest Actor (Emerald)
References