Tencent has released its 2025 Entertainment White Paper, and the annual industry report leaves little ambiguity about who defined Chinese popular culture over the past year.
Superstar Xiao Zhan emerged as the most dominant figure across the data, ranking first on 13 separate charts spanning film, television, music, and overall influence, a rare sweep that underscores his sustained cross-industry reach.
Published on January 9, 2026, the Tencent Entertainment White Paper marks its 12th consecutive year of release since 2014. Compiled through large-scale data analysis across film, TV dramas, music, and variety programming, the report is widely viewed as a benchmark for measuring both short-term popularity and long-term audience engagement in Chinese entertainment.
In the Top 10 Male Celebrities Comprehensive Popularity ranking for 2025, Xiao Zhan led the list, followed by Cheng Yi, Liu Yuning, Wang Yibo, Tan Jianci, Wang Hedi, Zhang Linghe, Qin Jun, Zhou Shen, and Yi Yang Qianxi.
On the female side, Yang Mi ranked first in comprehensive popularity, with Zhao Liying, Yang Zi, Zhao Lusi, Dilraba Dilmurat, Bai Lu, Yu Shuxin, Liu Yifei, Tang Yan, and Liu Shishi rounding out the top ten.
The Attention Index categories highlighted slightly different audience dynamics. Xiao Zhan again topped the Male Attention Index, ahead of Cheng Yi, Liu Yuning, Tan Jianci, Wang Yibo, Ding Yuxi, Song Yaxuan, Zhou Shen, Ma Jiaqi, and Zhang Linghe.
Zhao Lusi led the Female Attention Index, followed by Zhao Liying, Yang Mi, Yu Shuxin, Yang Zi, Bai Lu, Dilraba Dilmurat, Meng Ziyi, Liu Yifei, and Tian Xunwei.
An additional update drew industry attention to the Top 10 Most Promising Male Celebrities born after 1995, with Tian Xuning and Zi Yu ranking first. Tencent cited the hit BL drama Revenged Love as their representative work, reflecting not just the impact of emerging actors on the industry but how they increasingly evaluated through both performance data and audience traction.
Beyond individual rankings, the 2025 White Paper illustrates a broader shift in Chinese entertainment toward multi-hyphenate careers, measurable fan engagement, and long-term brand influence. As streaming platforms, music charts, and social visibility continue to intersect, Tencent’s annual report remains a key lens through which the industry assesses its evolving power structure.
What do you think of this year’s rankings? Share your thoughts on X and Instagram, and explore more entertainment coverage at Lyrical Muse.
Leave a Reply