Yang Zi

Yang Zi was born in 1974, originally from Hebei Province. In his early years he lived in the countryside of Hebei and received strict education and training. From the age of six he developed a deep affection for natural elements such as earth. In the second year of junior high he began work-study at his family’s factory, trying positions such as lathe operator, milling, planing, grinding and fitter, and he obtained the relevant qualification certificates. This experience continued until his sophomore year at university. During that period he became the manager of the Juli Group’s Shanghai office and would go to Shanghai every weekend to handle financial accounts and contracts.

Before entering the entertainment industry, Yang’s life revolved almost entirely around the family business, and he frequently traveled between Guangzhou, Shanghai and Singapore. It was only after becoming an actor that he began to visit entertainment venues such as KTVs and bars. In 2005, by chance he entered the film world and co-starred with Li Ruotong in the movie Qinghua, playing multiple different roles in the film. The movie drew attention because of his love of and expertise in Chinese porcelain, and he won the Best Newcomer Award at the 12th Beijing College Student Film Festival.

In July 2005 he shot the comedy film The World’s Greatest Banquet in Luojiang, Sichuan. At the same time he appeared in TV series such as My Heart Still and Cappuccino, and also appeared in Wang Jing’s fashion romance drama Phoenix Rising from the Ashes. In 2006 he co-starred in the idol inspirational drama Why Love You, and played important roles in the costume dramas Sun and Moon Above the Sky and The Match of the Immortals. From 2007 to 2008 Yang was again active in film and television, taking on many roles including Liu Tian, Fang Shiyu (Fong Sai-yuk) and Emperor Song Huizong.

By 2010 several of his series—such as Rich Second Generation: Love Without Promise, The Peerless Hero Fong Sai-yuk and The New Water Margin—had gradually expanded his influence. In 2012 he played Jin Ren in the film Women Like Flowers, produced with a Hollywood team; that film won the Best Picture Award at the 7th Monaco International Film Festival. He continued to participate in numerous productions afterward, including The Temptation of the Heavenly Bead and I’ll Wait for You in Xilingol.

In 2011 Yang founded Juli Film & Television, producing a number of movies. Among them, The Legend of the White Snake, produced by him and Yu Dong and starring Huang Shengyi and Jet Li, earned over 200 million yuan at the box office and was selected for screening at the Venice Film Festival. He has also been actively involved in the study and promotion of Tibetan Buddhism, publishing several related books and donating to the construction of hundreds of temples and Buddha statues.

In philanthropy, Yang has made multiple charitable donations, including aid to impoverished areas and funding temple construction. He has raised money for seriously ill children and donated cash and materials to disaster areas, receiving honors such as “China Social Responsibility Public Welfare Image Ambassador of the Year.” In his personal life, he has one son with his ex-wife Tao Hong, and later married Huang Shengyi with whom he has two sons; the couple has recently announced their separation. He has also taken part in variety shows and livestreaming, achieving commercial success.