Yang Mi

Yang Mi, born September 12, 1986 in Beijing, is a well-known Chinese actress, singer and producer. Her given name “Mi” (幂) comes from her parents’ surname Yang (杨) — it refers to Yang to the third power (an exponent). Yang Mi was born into a family of police officers in Beijing’s Xuanwu District (now part of Xicheng District).

In her early years Yang Mi grew up in the narrow lanes of southern Beijing (Nancheng hutongs). As a child she had wide-ranging interests, including piano, singing and drawing, and displayed a strong sense of justice and a lively personality. At age four she joined a children’s film and television training class and was selected for the production of Tang Ming Huang under the guidance of the China Children’s Film Studio, playing Princess Xianyi, which launched her performing career. In 1991 she made a cameo in Stephen Chow’s film King of Beggars, and the following year she co-starred in the children’s drama Monkey Kid, earning awards for her performance.

In 2001 Yang Mi attended Beijing No. 14 High School and began a modeling career, signing with Beijing Rongxinda Film & TV Company. In 2003 she won a role in the TV series Honour of the Red Powder (Hongfen Shijia), officially entering the television industry. In 2004 she appeared in Jin Yong’s classic wuxia drama The Return of the Condor Heroes, playing Guo Xiang, gradually coming to public attention. In 2005 she was admitted to the Performance Department of the Beijing Film Academy with the top score and took part in multiple film and television projects while studying.

By 2006 she had become widely known for her role as Guo Xiang in The Return of the Condor Heroes. In 2008 she appeared in Li Shaohong’s adaptation of Dream of the Red Chamber as Qingwen and received a positive response. That same year she played Luo Qingchuan in the costume/time-travel palace drama Palace, which increased her fame in palace intrigue and time-travel genres.

In 2009 Yang Mi was honored as an “80s-generation new entertainment superstar” and—alongside Huang Shengyi, Wang Luodan and Liu Yifei—was cited among the “Four Young Leading Actresses.” That year the TV series Chinese Paladin 3 aired, in which she played Xue Jian (Xue Jian / Xuejian? the role Snowie/Xuejian is often rendered as Xue Jian or Xuejian), further raising her public profile. In 2011 her starring role in Palace achieved high ratings, placing her on the Forbes China Celebrity List and earning her multiple “most popular actress” honors.

In 2012 Yang Mi released her first solo music album, Confidante (literal title: Qin Mi Guanxi), and won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Popularity Actress. In 2014 she married actor Hawick Lau in Bali and the couple had a daughter nicknamed “Tang Tang.” In 2015 she founded Haining Jiaxing Tianxia Film & Culture Co., Ltd. (commonly known as Jaywalk Studios), beginning a transition into producing. From 2016 onward Yang Mi has continued to release new works, including Eternal Love (Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms), Legend of Fuyao, and the film Reset, and has received multiple domestic and international awards, including Best Actress at the Houston International Film Festival.

In her personal life, Yang Mi was married to Hawick Lau and they have one daughter; she announced their divorce in 2018. She is active in philanthropy, participating in charity fundraising, environmental causes and poverty-relief projects, and has received multiple awards for social responsibility and industry honors. She remains an important figure in the Chinese film and television industry.

As of 2025, Yang Mi continues to be active in film, music and public welfare, maintaining a visible influence in the public eye.