12 C-Drama Actors Post 90s Gen Best Known for Main Roles in Costume Dramas

There are tons of C-drama actors from the post-'90s generation (meaning people who were born between 1990 and 1999) making a wave in the Chinese entertainment industry today, in fact the most popular liuliang actors of today came from this generation, but surprisingly, only a few of them are known of portraying remarkable lead characters in the costume genre, considering that China produced more than 70% of costume series each year.

When we began gathering names of post-90s gen C-drama actors who have at least four costume series in the main role, we had a hard time completing the list since we got only a few names that fit into the category. 

Some popular actors, such as Wang Yibo, Bai Jingting, Liu Haoran, Vin Zhang, and Zhang Xincheng, only have three costume dramas in the main role since their acting debut. Ren Jialun was born in 1989 so he's out of the league.

To date, the following are the only C-drama actors in the post-90s generation who have at least four costume dramas in the main leading role. You can post a comment with the names of actors if you think we missed some.

12. Ao Ruipeng - He was born on October 6, 1995, in Chongqing, China, and graduated from Chengdu Vocational College of Art. He officially debuted in acting in 2020, playing a support role in "Beautiful Time With You". 

Ao Ruipeng has a support role in "A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College" (2021) and "Love Never Fails" which is yet to be given a go signal for release after the lead actress, Yuan Bingyan got entangled in a tax evasion case.

Ao Ruipeng

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• Love is Written in the Stars (2021)
• The Blood of Youth (2022)
• Wanru's Journey (2023)
• Wrong Carriage, Right Groom (2023)

Upcoming costume drama: Love Never Fails and Hero is Back

11. Han Dongjun - Also known by his English name Elvis Han, he was born on July 21, 1992, and grew up in Canada. He attended high school in Vancouver, Canada, but entertainment beckoned when in 2011, he was cast in the web film, Vancouver Rock and Roll. 

It ignited his interest in acting so he decided to return to China to study acting. He entered the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 2012. In 2013, he made his acting debut in the hit costume drama, The Romance of the Condor Heroes (starring Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen) playing the support role of Wu Xiu Wen. Han Dongjun is also a certified car racer, having received professional certification from the Federation of Automobile Sports of the People's Republic of China (FASC).

Han Dongjun or Elvis Han

Costume series in  leading role (done airing):

• Wu Xin: The Monster Killer (2015)
• Chinese Paladin Season 5 (2016)
• Wu Xin: The Monster Killer 2 (2017)
• Secret of Three Kingdoms (2018)
• Wu Xin: The Monster Killer 3 (2020)

10. Li Hongyi - Born on June 26, 1998, in Shenyang, China Li Hongyi studied music at the Beijing Contemporary Music Academy. He became a trainee at SM Entertainment, the management of the popular K-pop group, X.O, but for unknown reasons, he quit and moved back to China to debut in acting.

He made his acting debut in 2014, in the web fantasy drama, "Untouchable". After appearing in contemporary dramas, he made his first costume drama, Love Better Than Immortality", which was released in 2019. He also appeared in a costume drama in 2021, Heart of Loyalty, portraying a support role.

Li Hong Yi

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• Love Better Than Immortality (2018)
• The Legendary Life of Queen Lau (2022)
• The Blood of Youth (2022)
• Wulin Heroes (2023)

Upcoming costume dramas: Winner is King, Dawn of the Book of Heaven, Flying Up Without Disturb, and a guest role in Drunk Spring Breeze (the prequel of The Blood of Youth)

9. Wang Heidi - also known by his English name, Dylan Wang, was born on December 20, 1998, in Leshan, Sichun, China. He attended Sichuan Southwest College of Civil Aviation to become a flight attendant but derailed when showbiz beckoned. 

He debuted in acting in 2018, in the Chinese remake of the hit Taiwanese series, Meteor Garden, playing the lead role of Daoming Si.

Dylan Wang 

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• Ever Night 2 (2020)
• Miss The Dragon (2021)
• Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022)
•  Unchained Love (2022)

Upcoming costume drama: Guardian of the Dafeng

8. Xu Kai Cheng - He was born on August 8, 1990, in Shanghai. He studied Ballet/Dance at the Shanghai Theater Academy and debuted in acting in 2013. He got his first leading role in the costume drama in 2018, "I am a Pet at Dali Temple".

Xu Kai Cheng 

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• I am a Pet at Dali Temple (2018)
• Dance of the Phoenix (2020)
• A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College (2021)
• Novoland: Pearl Eclipse (2021)
• Love is an Accident (2023)

7. Ding Yuxi - Also known by his English name, Ryan Ding, he was born on July 20, 1995, in Shanghai. He graduated from Shanghai Theater Academy in the Acting department and debuted in acting in 2017, in the Chinese movie, The Game of Asura.

Ding Yuxi

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• New Smiling Proud Wanderer (2018
• Serenade of Peaceful Joy (2020)
• The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020)
• Romance of a Twin Flower (2023)
• Love You Seven Times (2023)

Upcoming costume dramas: Black Lotus and a support role in Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Zhu Ye

6. Xiao Zhan - Known by his English name, Sean Xiao, he was born on October 5, 1991, in Chongqing, China. He studied graphic design/visual arts at the Modern International Art Design Academy at Chongqing Technology and Business University. After his graduation in 2014, Xiao Zhan worked as a graphic designer and photographer. 

He debuted in acting in 2016 via "Superstar Academy". He has supporting roles in popular costume dramas: Fights Break Sphere (2018) and Joy of Life (2019). Xiao Zhan also starred in a costume film, Jade Dynasty (2019).

Xiao Zhan

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• Oh! My Emperor (2018)
• The Untamed (2019)
• The Wolf (2020)
• Doulou Continent (2021)
• The Longest Promise (2023)

Upcoming costume drama: Legend of the Hidden Sea (formerly Tibetan Sea Opera) and The Legend of the Condor Heroes (movie)

5. Xu Kai - Born on March 5, 1995, in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, Xu Kai studied Finance at the South China Agricultural University in Guangdong but quit to become a model in 2013. He debuted in acting in 2018, in The Untouchable Lovers, the same year he starred in his first costume drama, Story of Yanxi Palace (support role).

Xu Kai

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• The Legends (2019)
• Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain (2019)
• Dance of the Sky Empire (2020)
• Ancient Love Poetry (2021)
• Court Lady (2021)
• Royal Feast (2022)
• Snow Eagle Lord (2023

Upcoming costume drama: Wonderland of Love

4. Yang Yang - He was born on September 9, 1991, in Shanghai. Yang Yang studied dance at the People's Liberation Army Art College. He debuted in acting in 2010, The Dream of Red Mansions, a remake of the 2005 classic of the same title. 

In 2017, he starred in a costume movie, Once Upon a Time, with Liu Yifei. It was the movie version of Eternal Love (2016) starring Yang Mi and Mark Chao, which was based on a novel, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. 

Yang Yang (left in the 2010 The Dream of Red Mansions)

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• The Dream of Red Mansions (2010)
• Legend of Goddess Luo (2013)
• The Four (2015)
• Martial Universe (2018)
• Who Rules The World (2022)

Upcoming costume drama - A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality

3. Wu Lei - Born on December 26, 1999, Wu Lei or Leo Wu began his career as a child actor, playing the role of the young Hu Ge, in the costume drama, Young Warriors. Wu Lei obtained a degree in Performing Arts this year from the Beijing Film Academy.

Wu Lei starred in many costume dramas playing a support role, probably more than you can imagine, when he was still a child until he became a teenager: Young Warriors (2006), The Legend and the Hero (2006), The Emperor's Harem (2011), The Romance of the Condor Heroes (2014), Nirvana in Fire (2015), The Legend of Qin (2015), The Imperial Doctress (2016), The Classic of Mountains and Seas (2016). Before he played a lead role in Magic Star (2017).

Wu Lei

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• Magic Star (2017)
• Fights Break Sphere (2018)
• Guardians of the Ancient Oath (2020)
• The Long Ballad (2021)
• Love Like The Galaxy (2022)

2. Joseph Zeng - Also known by his Chinese name Zeng Shunxi, Joseph was born on October 9, 1997, in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. He entered showbiz in 2014 as one of the members of the Chinese singing boy group, Fresh Geeks Youth along with Neo Hou (Back From the Brink), but he left the group in 2015 to concentrate in acting. 

He made his acting debut in 2016 via Happy Mitan. In the following year, he starred in the costume drama, Fighter of the Destiny (starring Lu Han and Gulinazha), playing a support role.

Joseph Zeng

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre (2019)
• Time Flies and You Are Here (2021)
• Rebirth For You (2021)
• Heroes (2022)
• Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023)
• Romance on the Farm (2023) - currently airing on iQIYI

Upcoming costume drama in the leading role: Legend of Rosy Clouds

1. Cheng Yi - Born Fu Shiqi on May 17, 1990, in Hunan, Cheng Yi obtained a degree in Acting from China's most prestigious acting school, the Central Academy of Drama, in 2012. He debuted in acting in 2011, in the costume drama, Beauty World. 

For three years after graduating from college, Cheng Yi concentrated on making movies before he went back to television/web dramas. 

Cheng Yi, no doubt is the King of Costume Drama among the post-90s generation. He has done more costume drama hits than his contemporaries, playing successive xianxia/wuxia series in the main role every summer since 2020. He has also a supporting role in Imperial Age, a costume series aired in 2021.

Cheng Yi

Costume series in a leading role (done airing):

• Noble Aspirations (2016)
• Love and Redemption (2020)
• The Promise of Chang'an (2020)
• Stand by Me (2021)
• Immortal Samsara (2022)
• Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023)

Upcoming costume dramas: Hero Legends and Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Wang Quan (all main roles)

Emerging C-Drama actors in the costume drama genre: 

The following post-90s gen are slowly joining the pack of actors who are best known for portraying roles in costume dramas. We are looking forward to more of their leading roles in this genre.

Liu Xue Yi, Deng Wei, and Zhang Linghe

1. Liu Xue Yi - He was born on July 6, 1990,  in Qingdao, Shandong, China. He began studying dance before he switched to drama. Liu Xue Yi obtained an Acting degree in 2014 from the Central Academy of Drama. 

He debuted in acting in 2011 in the movie, "The Curse of the Butterfly", and made his television/web series debut in 2015, in the costume drama, "Shangguan Wan'er". He later became a talent in H&R Century Pictures with Cheng Yi, Ren Jialun, and Yang Zi. Since his acting debut, Liu Xueyi appeared most in costume dramas.

Costume series he has done so far:

• Shangguan Wan'er (2015) - support role
• The Legend of Xiao Zhuang (2015) - support role
• Noble Aspirations (2016) - support role
• Legend of the Dragon Pearl (2017) - support role
• The Destiny of White Snake (2018) - support role
• Love and Redemption (2020) - support role
• Qing Luo (2021) - main role
• Ancient Love Poetry (2021) - support role
• The Blood of Youth (2022) - main role
• Destined (2023) - support role
• A League of Noble Man (2023) - guest role

Upcoming costume series: Love Never Fails, Blossom, and A Moment But Forever (all main roles)

2. Deng Wei - He was born on February 26, 1995, in Inner Mongolia and studied Acting at the Central Academy of Drama. He is pretty much new in the industry, in fact,  he has not starred in the movies yet, but Deng Wei is slowly climbing to the top due to his fine acting skills.

He just debuted in acting in 2021, with a support role in the costume drama, "Miss The Dragon". And he was an impressive performance there.  You could see how deep his acting skill is, the way he threw his lines and pulled emotions. His visual is perfect in the costume genre, innocent yet strong and charming.

Costume dramas he has done so far: 

• Miss The Dragon (2021) - support role
• Sassy Beauty (2022) - support role
• The Journey of Chongzi (2023) - support role
• Till The End of the Moon (2023) - support role
• Lost You Forever (2023) - main role

Upcoming costume dramas: Legend of Rosy Clouds and Sendai Trees (all main roles) 

3. Zhang Ling He - He was born on December 30, 1997, in Wuxi, Jiangsu, and originally wanted to join the Aerospace Agency. He studied Electrical Engineering at the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering of Nanjing University. 

However, he was spotted by a talent scout and offered an opportunity to appear in dramas. He debuted in acting in 2020 via Maiden Holmes. 

Costume series he has done so far:

• Maiden Holmes (2020) - main role
• Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022) - support role
• My Journey To You (2023) - main role
• Tiger and Crane (2023) - main role

Upcoming costume series: Story of Kunning Palace (main role), Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Yuehong (support role), The Grand Princess (main role) 

If you think there are actors that should appear in this list based on the requirements: Born between 1990 to 1999 and have at least four costume dramas (wuxia and xianxia) in the main leading role, please post the names in the comment section.