Li Yifeng (born Li He, 4 May 1987) also known as Evan Li, is a Chinese actor and singer. Li launched his career after participating in the talent show My Hero (2007). Since 2009, he shifted to acting. Li is known for his roles in television dramas Swords of Legends (2014), The Lost Tomb (2015), Noble Aspirations (2016), Sparrow (2016), Fearless Whispers (2020), Day Breaker (2022), as well as in films Mr. Six (2015), for which he won the Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Supporting Actor, and Animal World (2018). Li ranked 9th on Forbes China Celebrity list in 2015, 11th in 2017, and 26th in 2019.
Li's career was suspended in 2022 after he was detained by the police for soliciting prostitutes.
Early life
Li was born in Chengdu, Sichuan.
Primary School (1994–2000): Chengdu Sanshengjie Primary School Junior High School (2000–2003): Chengdu Xuedao Street Middle School Senior High School (2003–2006): Chengdu Fifth Middle School University (2006–2010): Department of Broadcasting and Hosting, School of Film and Television, Sichuan Normal University
Career
2007–2013: Beginnings In 2007, Li participated in the talent show, My Hero, coming in at 8th place and winning the Most Popular Contestant award. He released his first single "The One I Love Hurts Me The Most" and his first EP Four Leaf Clover in November 2007.
In 2009, Li made his acting debut in the drama The Prince of Tennis 2, adapted from the Japanese anime The Prince of Tennis. His role is the equivalent of Saeki Kojirou in the original anime. The same year, Li released his first full-length album Mr Child.
Li gained recognition after starring in the Taiwanese drama Sunny Happiness, which achieved high ratings in both Taiwan and China. He received the Best New Actor award at the 2011 China TV Drama Awards for his performance. The same year, he made his feature film debut in Lovesick, starring alongside Ariel Lin and Chen Bolin.
In 2012, Li starred in the television series White Lies and earned praise for his performance as an autistic youth. In 2013, Li starred in the romance revenge drama The Return of a Princess, and won the Best Acting Idol award at the 2013 China TV Drama Awards and the Most Popular Actor award at the 2013 LeTV Awards.
2014–2022: Breakthrough and mainstream popularity Li achieved breakthrough with the fantasy action drama Swords of Legends (2014), where he portrayed the protagonist Baili Tusu. Li became the first male actor to win the Newcomer Award at the 2014 Elle Style Awards. The same year, Li released his first autobiographical book entitled A Once in a Lifetime Moment.
Li solidified his popularity with two hit dramas in 2015: period drama Legend of Fragrance and action adventure web drama The Lost Tomb where he played the role of Wu Xie, based on the popular tomb-raiding novel Daomu Biji. The same year Li worked as a producer for the first time, taking part in the production of outdoor variety show Lets Go! Go! Go!.
Li's starred in two films in 2015, coming-of-age tale Forever Young and romance drama Fall in Love Like a Star, both were panned by critics. He bounced back in December 2015 with a supporting role in Feng Xiaogang's crime blockbuster Mr. Six, where he plays a rebellious youth who runs away from home because of conflicts with his father and later gets into trouble with gangsters. The film topped Chinese box office charts and won critical acclaim. Li won the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance at the 33rd Hundred Flowers Awards.
Following his success, Li entered the 2015 Forbes Chinese Celebrity list for the first time, placing at 9th with an estimated revenue of 69 million yuan (10.5 million dollars; 9.6 million euros). He was also named "Most Commercially Valuable Celebrity" by CBN Weekly.
In 2016, Li was appointed the Chinese Spectator Ambassador for the blockbuster film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The same month, Li the attended 2016 Style Icon Asia Awards as the only Chinese representative, and won the 2016 SIA Style Icon Award.
In 2016, Li starred as the protagonist in both seasons of Noble Aspirations, adapted from popular xianxia novel Zhu Xian. The drama received positive reviews and surpassed 28 billion views, becoming one of the most watched Chinese dramas. He then starred in Sparrow, an espionage series set in the 1940s. The drama received critical acclaim, and became the second highest rated drama of the year with the finale reaching the peak rating of 2.46. Li won the Best Actor award at the China TV Golden Eagle Award for his performance.
In 2017, Li starred in the suspense crime film Guilty of Mind, based on the novel Evil Minds by Lei Mi.
In 2018, Li appeared in CCTV New Year's Gala for the first time, performing the song "The New Era of Zanzan". The same year he starred in the thriller film Animal World, based on the Japanese manga series Ultimate Survivor Kaiji. The film received positive reviews and topped the box office of the week of its release.
In 2020, Li starred in modern romance drama Wait in Beijing and historical spy drama Fearless Whispers. The latter was in the Top 10 of 2020 highest-rated dramas.
In 2021, Li starred in the first Chinese rocket force themed military television series The Glory of Youth, produced by People's Liberation Army Rocket Force. He also starred in the xianxia fantasy drama Mirror: Twin Cities.
In 2022, the suspense series Day Breaker, in which Li took on the protagonist role, was released. The drama received positive reviews, ranked 2nd on 2022 top suspense dramas list.
2022–Present: Career stoppage On 11 September 2022, Beijing police detained Li for multiple incidents of soliciting prostitutes, which he had confessed to. After the announcement, multiple brands such as Prada, Panerai, Remy Martin and L'Oréal Paris terminated their partnership agreements with Li. Li's social media accounts, as well as those of his studio and fan club, were suspended. Li's Weibo account was subsequently deleted, and his drama series and films were removed from the Chinese Internet and streaming services.
On 12 April 2025, after over two years of hiatus, Li held his comeback concert, "Covenant of the Green Sea," in Bangkok, Thailand.
Personal life Relationships In 2014, Li mentioned on a variety show that he had a Korean girlfriend, which was speculated to be Korean actress Lee Da-hae, his co-star in The Honey Party of Love (2012). Lee, however, denied the speculation.
In 2022, the internet influencer Guo Ziyu came out as Li's girlfriend for three years, expressing her disappointment at Li's soliciting prostitution and accusing him of cheating with another influencer in their relationship.
Filmography Film Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/ 2011 Lovesick 恋爱恐慌症 Cui Ailun 2015 Forever Young 栀子花开 Xu Nuo Fall in Love Like a Star 怦然星动 Su Xingyu Mr. Six 老炮儿 Zhang Xiaobo 2017 Guilty of Mind 心理罪 Fang Mu The Founding of an Army 建军大业 He Changgong 2018 Animal World 动物世界 Zheng Kaisi 2020 My People, My Homeland 我和我的家乡 Jiang Xiaofeng 2021 The Pioneer 革命者 Mao Zedong TBAPlayground操场 Zong Shaobin
Television series Year English title Chinese title Role Network Notes/ 2009 The Prince of Tennis 2 加油! 网球王子 II Zuo Bo Dragon TV 2010 Happy & Love Forever 幸福一定强 Lu Shen Anhui TV 2011 Sunny Happiness 幸福最晴天 Xiang Yunchao Anhui TV, CTV 2012 White Lies 真爱谎言 Jiang Xiyu Jiangxi TV, CTi Happy Michelin Kitchen 幸福三颗星 Xiang Yunchao Anhui TV, CTV Cameo Bounty Hunter 赏金猎人 Yu Tai Hunan TV Love Actually 爱的蜜方 Chen Liyang 2013 The Return of a Princess 千金归来 Lin Hao Dragon TV2014 Swords of Legends 古剑奇谭 Baili Tusu Hunan TV Tiny Times 小时代之折纸时代 Jian Xi Youku The Joyfully Pretty Enemy 欢天喜地俏冤家 Chen Sanliu CCTV-8 2015 Legend of Fragrance 活色生香 Ning Zhiyuan Hunan TV The Lost Tomb 盗墓笔记 Wu Xie iQiyi 2016 Noble Aspirations 青云志 Zhang Xiaofan Hunan TV Sparrow 麻雀 Chen Shen Noble Aspirations 2 青云志2 Zhang Xiaofan / Gui Li Beijing TV 2020 Wait in Beijing 我在北京等你 Xu Tian Jiangsu TV, Zhejiang TV Fearless Whispers 隐秘而伟大 Gu Yaodong CCTV-8 2021 The Glory of Youth 号手就位 Xia Zhuo Jiangsu TV, Zhejiang TV 2022Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities 镜·双城 Su Mo Tencent Day Breaker 暗夜行者 Chen Mo / Luo XiangIQIYI
Short film Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/2014 Want To See Him, Tell Him Through Netease 想见他 就在易信告诉他 The Most Beautiful Performance 2014 2014最美表演 President 2015 Being Real is Fun 真实才够FUN Bring Love Home 2015 把乐带回家2015 Son Add You Add The Taste of New Year 加你加年味 Xiao Feng Unilever: Zhu Geliang 凌仕：诸葛亮篇 Unilever: Archimedes 凌仕：阿基米德篇 Finding Difference 大家来找茶 Love in Number 数字恋爱 Zi Jian I Am Your Diedie Phone 我是你的喋喋phone Diedie Who Is Your Dish 2015 谁是你的菜2015 A Hundred Challenge Waiting For You 百事挑赞 由你来战 Li Yifeng x McLaren Automotive 650S 李易峰×迈凯伦650S No Fear of Challenge 无惧挑战 成就自我 Chaos With Me 和我一起破坏 一起嗨 The Girl I Missed 错过的爱 0 Inches Girl 0码女孩 What I Want I Want Now 我要的现在就要 Gliding to Heartbeat 丝滑到心跳 Wear K Life and Be High 穿上K-Life 一起出来嗨 Love in Today 爱在今天 即是永恒 Eos M Partners with Li Yifeng EOS M携手李易峰 2016 Bring Happiness Home: Monkey King's Family 把乐带回家之猴王世家 0 Calories Go Chang 0脂肪才go畅 Legend of Searching Nian 寻年传说 Charge For 5 Mins, Talk For 2 Hours 充电5分钟 通话2小时 You Are Not Only You 你不止是你 Not Only One Side 不止一面 大有看头 Tales of a Fashion Buyer 解忧买手店 2017 Fats Investigation Agency 肌密调查局 Time Crack 看不见的TA之时间裂缝 One Man Show 独角戏 2018 As Time Goes By 时间流逝 2019 Youth and My Motherland 青春与祖国同在 2020 Unspeakable Love 谈不了的恋爱 Li Bin 2021 Me and The Taste of my Hometown 我和我的家乡味
Variety show Year English title Chinese title Role Network Notes/ 2018 Dunk of China 这！就是灌篮Cast member Youku 2019 Game On 我要打篮球 Tencent Video 2021 The Hero 最后的赢家 iQIYI
Discography
Albums Year English title Chinese title Release date Label Notes/ 2007 Four Leaf Clover 四叶草 19 November 2007 2008 Ferris Wheel 摩天轮 20 July 2008 EQ Record 2009 Mr. Child 小先生 17 May 2010 EQ Record 2010 That Song 那首歌 29 October 2010 EQ Record 2014 Yifeng's Love Letter 易峰情书 10 November 2014 Sony Music Entertainment 2019 Dream Visit 24 April 2019
Singles Year English title Chinese title Album Notes/ 2007 "The One I Love Hurts Me The Most" 我爱的人伤我最深 Banquet 2008 "To Shine Brilliantly" 大放异彩 Olympic theme song with Hu Haiquan "Little Girl Don't Cry" 娃娃不哭 Earthquake relieve charity songLyrics written by Li Yifeng "Believe in Love" 相信爱 Earthquake relieve charity song 2012 "Underworld" 江湖 Bounty Hunter OST2014 "Sword Wound" 剑伤 Swords of Legends OST "Sword of Heart" 剑心 "Warm Heart Stings" 心如玄铁 Legend of Fragrance OST "What I Want, I Want It Now" 我要的现在就要 Choice OST 2015 "Goodbye Goodbye" 再见再见 Forever Young OST "In a Rare You" 年少有你 "Please Contact Me" 请跟我联络 Fall in Love Like a Star OST "The Price of Love" 爱的代价 Mr Six OST with Feng Xiaogang 2016 "Time Cracks" 时间裂缝 Noble Aspirations 2 OST 2017 "Love in the Spring Bud" 爱在春蕾 Spring Bud Project theme song with Hao Wei2018 "The New Era of Zanzan" 赞赞新时代 Performance for CCTV Spring Gala"Role" 角色 Lyrics written by Li Yifeng with Lexie Liu "Tiny Yet Great" 渺小却伟大 2019 "Youth Rave It Up" 青春跃起来 Performance for CCTV Spring Galawith Zhu Yilong"Youth Needs Warmth" 青春需要温暖 For anti-bullying campaign 2020 "Dance With Me" 与我共舞 Feat. Mosaic 2022 "Flashbacks of Life" 倒敘的生活
Accolades Awards and nominations