1. Overview
Xin Baiqing (辛柏青Xīn BǎiqīngChinese; born June 20, 1973) is a prominent Chinese actor recognized for his versatile performances across film, television, and stage. A graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, Xin has established a distinguished career, earning critical acclaim for roles such as Li Bai in the 2017 fantasy mystery film Legend of the Demon Cat and Guan Xiaohe in the 2010 stage play Four Generations under One Roof, for which he received the Best Performance Award at the 2012 Golden Lion Award. His work reflects a commitment to the performing arts, contributing significantly to the Chinese entertainment industry through a diverse array of characters and productions.
2. Early life and education
Xin Baiqing was born on June 20, 1973, in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China. His academic journey in the performing arts began in 1993 when he enrolled in the Central Academy of Drama, where he specialized in acting. He successfully completed his studies and graduated from the academy in 1997. In the same year of his graduation, Xin Baiqing was assigned to the National Theatre Company of China, marking the official start of his professional career in the theatrical world.
3. Acting career
Xin Baiqing's acting career spans a wide range of productions across television, film, and stage, showcasing his versatility and depth as a performer.
3.1. Early career and debut
Xin Baiqing's initial foray into screen acting began with the television series Going into the Light. Following this, he appeared in several other television productions in the late 1990s, including Up and Down of a Century (1997), Red Rock (1998), In the End (1999), My Dear Country (1999), and Deadly Encounter (1999). His first credited film appearance was an uncredited role in the 2000 film Because of Love.
In October 2005, Xin Baiqing gained further recognition by starring alongside notable actors such as Sun Li, Deng Chao, and Yin Tao in Happiness As Flowers, a romantic comedy television series directed by Gao Xixi. He also took on the historical role of the Jiaqing Emperor in the biographical television series Jiaqing Emperor, which depicted the life of the Qing dynasty emperor.
In 2007, Xin Baiqing starred as Zhao Jianping, a 35-year-old designer based in Beijing, in the drama film Hutong Days, where he reunited with co-star Shirley Dai, who played his wife. The following year, he was cast in the film Glittering Days, portraying the husband of Wu Yue's character. From 2007 to 2012, he continued to appear in numerous television series, including Snowwolf (2007), Qiu Haitang (2007), Chinese Band of Brothers (2008), Marry and Settle Down (2009), Happy Memories of the Ma's (2010), The Password Of Happiness (2011), and Great Declaration of Wife (2012).
In 2012, Xin Baiqing made a cameo appearance in The Last Tycoon, a period drama film featuring a star-studded cast including Chow Yun-fat, Sammo Hung, Francis Ng, and Huang Xiaoming. He later had a minor role as a school leader in the 2014 film Coming Home, which premiered at the prestigious 2014 Cannes Film Festival. A significant supporting role came in 2017 when he portrayed Li Bai, the renowned poet of the Tang dynasty, in Chen Kaige's fantasy mystery film Legend of the Demon Cat. In 2018, Xin Baiqing took on a lead role in the romantic television series Beautiful Life, acting opposite Zhang Jiayi, Li Xiaoran, Song Dandan, and Niu Li.
3.2. Filmography
Xin Baiqing has appeared in the following films:
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Because of Love | 因为有爱Chinese | Zhou Yuan |
| 2001 | Spring in a Small Town | 小城之春Chinese | Zhang Zhichen |
| 2006 | On Red Manzhouli | 红色满洲里Chinese | Liu Ping'an |
| 2007 | Hutong Days | 胡同里的阳光Chinese | Zhao Jianping |
| 2008 | Glittering Days | 万家灯火Chinese | He Laosan |
| 2011 | Love Returns to Taoranting | 情归陶然亭Chinese | Gao Junyu |
| 2012 | The Last Tycoon | 大上海Chinese | Chen Zhaimei |
| 2014 | Coming Home | 归来Chinese | School leader |
| 2017 | Legend of the Demon Cat | 妖猫传Chinese | Li Bai |
| 2019 | My People, My Country | 我和我的祖国Chinese | Zhao Pengfei |
| 2019 | The Guilty Ones | 你是凶手Chinese | Captain Zhang |
| 2019 | The Eight Hundred | 八佰Chinese | Fang Xingwen |
| 2021 | Yanagawa | 漫长的告白Chinese | Li Chun |
| 2021 | Water Boys | 五个扑水的少年Chinese | Old Yuan |
| 2023 | The Shadowless Tower | 白塔之光Chinese | Gu Wentong |
| 2023 | The Volunteers: To the War | 志愿军：雄兵出击Chinese | Li Moyin |
3.3. Television
Xin Baiqing's television credits include:
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Going into the Light | 走进阳光Chinese | Zhang Lichen |
| 1997 | Up and Down of a Century | 百年沉浮Chinese | Pei Zhuyou |
| 1998 | Red Rock | 红岩Chinese | Zheng Kechang |
| 1999 | In the End | 九九归一Chinese | Yuan Dewang |
| 1999 | Deadly Encounter | 致命邂逅Chinese | Zhang Mai |
| 1999 | My Dear Country | 我亲爱的祖国Chinese | Gao Yuancheng |
| 2000 | Sun Yat-sen | 孙中山Chinese | Hu Hanmin |
| 2001 | Redemption | 救赎Chinese | Fang Zhou |
| 2002 | New Dao Ma Dan | 新刀马旦Chinese | Bai Liju |
| 2002 | Crisis of Hackers | 黑客危机Chinese | Liang Zheng |
| 2003 | Zero Distance | 零距离Chinese | Luo Fang |
| 2003 | Early Spring | 早春二月Chinese | Xiao Jianqiu |
| 2004 | Anti-Black Mission | 反黑使命Chinese | Huang Jiangqian |
| 2004 | Happy Planet | 快乐星球Chinese | Magistrate |
| 2005 | Jiaqing Emperor | 嘉庆皇帝Chinese | Jiaqing Emperor |
| 2005 | Marry in Chinese Fashion | 中国式结婚Chinese | Ding Hao |
| 2005 | Happiness As Flowers | 幸福像花儿一样Chinese | Lin Bin |
| 2006 | Peacock River | 孔雀河Chinese | He Guangquan |
| 2007 | Snowwolf | 雪狼Chinese | Liu Dongliang |
| 2007 | Qiu Haitang | 秋海棠Chinese | Qiu Haitang |
| 2008 | Chinese Band of Brothers | 中国兄弟连Chinese | Yuan Xueyong |
| 2009 | A Man Lives for a Face | 人活一张脸Chinese | Jia Baowen |
| 2009 | Marry and Settle Down | 成家立业Chinese | Xu Zhixiang |
| 2010 | Happy Memories of the Ma's | 老马家的幸福往事Chinese | Ma Ming |
| 2011 | The Password Of Happiness | 幸福密码Chinese | Shi Xiangnan |
| 2012 | Great Declaration of Wife | 媳妇的美好宣言Chinese | Yu Kuai |
| 2013 | My Parents | 我的父亲母亲Chinese | Chen Zhi |
| 2014 | Follow Me Home | 跟我回家Chinese | Men Jiaxiang |
| 2015 | Family Honor | 家族荣誉Chinese | Huang Piao |
| 2015 | For a Sentence | 为了一句话Chinese | Yang Baishun |
| 2016 | It's Not Easy to Raise a Child | 养个孩子不容易Chinese | Han Chao |
| 2018 | Beautiful Life | 美好生活Chinese | Bian Zhijun |
| 2018 | Homeland | 河山Chinese | Jian Xiuzhang |
3.4. Drama
Xin Baiqing has performed in the following stage plays:
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | My Father | 俺爹我爸Chinese | Xiao Qiang |
| 2010 | Four Generations under One Roof | 四世同堂Chinese | Guan Xiaohe |
| 2001 | Charles III | 查理三世Chinese | Clarence |
| 2001 | Cyclonus | 狂飙Chinese | Tian Han |
| 2007 | Red Rose White Rose | 红玫瑰与白玫瑰Chinese | Tong Zhenbao |
| 2012 | Green Snake | 青蛇Chinese | Master Fahai |
4. Awards and nominations
Xin Baiqing has received several accolades throughout his career, recognizing his performances in both film and stage productions.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Four Generations under One Roof | Golden Lion Award | Best Performance Award | Won |
| 2018 | Legend of the Demon Cat | 32nd Golden Rooster Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
| 2022 | Yanagawa | 35th Golden Rooster Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
| 2023 | The Shadowless Tower | 13th Beijing International Film Festival | Best Actor | Won |
5. Personal life
Xin Baiqing is married to actress Zhu Yuanyuan, who was also his schoolmate during their time at university. The couple welcomed their daughter in August 2008.
6. Assessment and influence
Xin Baiqing's career is marked by consistent critical recognition and a diverse body of work that showcases his acting prowess across various mediums. His performance as Guan Xiaohe in the stage play Four Generations under One Roof earned him the Best Performance Award at the 2012 Golden Lion Award, highlighting his significant contributions to Chinese theater. Furthermore, his nominations for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Rooster Awards for his roles in Legend of the Demon Cat and Yanagawa, as well as his win for Best Actor at the 13th Beijing International Film Festival for The Shadowless Tower, underscore his strong presence and artistic impact in Chinese cinema. His ability to portray a wide range of characters, from historical figures to contemporary roles, demonstrates his versatility and enduring influence within the Chinese entertainment industry.
7. External links
- [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1249409/ Xin Baiqing at IMDb]
- [https://movie.douban.com/celebrity/1021293/ Xin Baiqing on Douban] (in Chinese)