Zhang Xincheng (, born 24 August 1995), also known by his English name Steven Zhang, is a Chinese actor, singer, and model. His first major role was that of Lin Yang in the campus web series My Huckleberry Friends (2017). Zhang is best known for his roles as Li Yubing in the sports drama Skate into Love and He Ziqiu in the family drama Go Ahead, both of which aired in 2020 and garnered him several awards for his work that year.
Early life Zhang was born and raised in Jingzhou, Hubei, China. He aspired to be a professional dancer as a child and eventually moved to Beijing in 2008 to attend the Affiliated Secondary School of the Beijing Dance Academy. Zhang notably placed first in college entrance examinations in 2014 for several courses offered by top performing arts colleges in China such as the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, People's Liberation Army Academy of Art, and Shanghai Theatre Academy. He subsequently attended the Central Academy of Drama and graduated with a bachelor's degree in musical theatre.
Career In 2013, Zhang made his acting debut in the short film School Bus.
In 2014, he released two singles: "Be Here for You" as the soundtrack to the film The Story of He Jinye, and the following year he released "Believe Love Still Exists" as the soundtrack to the web series Heartbreak Emergency Department. He went on to star in several short films and signed with the entertainment company EE-Media in 2015.
In 2016, Zhang starred in his first television drama Shuttle Love Millennium, where he gained attention for his performance.
In 2017, Zhang starred in the critically acclaimed campus web series My Huckleberry Friends. He won the award of "Drama Newcomer of the Year" at the iQIYI Scream Night for his performance.
In 2018, Zhang starred in the esports drama The Strongest Men of God.
In 2019, Zhang starred in the youth historical drama Young Blood.
In 2020, Zhang starred in the hit sports romance drama Skate into Love, alongside Janice Wu, portraying a collegiate ice hockey player. He then co-starred with Lin Yun in the music romance drama Symphony's Romance, adapted from the Japanese manga Nodame Cantabile, in which he played a genius conductor. Zhang also starred in and helped produce the slice-of-life family drama Go Ahead. Forbes China listed him in their 30 Under 30 list for 2020 which consisted of 30 influential people under 30 years old who have had a substantial effect in their fields.
In 2021, Zhang participated in the sixth season of Who's the Murderer. On February 28, he was awarded Weibo's Enterprising Artist of the Year at the 2020 Sina Weibo Night in Shanghai. In May, he began filming for the series Justice In The Dark, in which he co-starred with Fu Xinbo. On June 17, the romantic comedy The Day of Becoming You, starring Zhang and Liang Jie, was aired. On September 8, the commercial war drama of the Republic of China The Justice, starring Zhang alongside Cai Wenjing and Zhang Zhijian, was broadcast on Hunan Satellite TV. In December, he joined the 2021–2022 Hunan Satellite TV New Year's Eve Gala, and performed "Red Ling" with Chinese music artist Fang Jinlong at the New Year's Eve Party.
In 2022, Zhang participated in the 7th season of Who's the Murderer. On May 16, he began filming for Bright Future, in which he played Lin Zhiwei. On May 20, he released his first single "Talking to Myself". On June 15, The Murder in Kairoutei was broadcast. On July 22, The Heart of Genius was broadcast. In early August, he co-starred with Sun Qian in the film All These Years, adapted from the novel of the same name by Ba Yue Chang An. On September 10, he participated in The Moon Knows Me - Cloud Gala, performing a poetry recitation about stars. On September 29, Young Blood 2 began filming, in which he played the main character Yuan Zhongxin. On December 7, Bright Future was broadcast.
In 2023, he participated in the show Our Inn as a partner. On April 8, Created in China, a drama adapted from the novel by A Nai, started filming. He played the leading role of Liu Jun. On April 28, the film All These Years premiered. On April 18, the music video for "Time Shattered", which is the theme song of All These Years, was released. On May 18, he appeared in Back to Field Season 7. On June 16, the film Elemental, in which he participated as the main voice actor, premiered in mainland China. On July 29, Young Blood 2 was aired. On August 22, he appeared in the Mango TV reality show Young Blood Detectives. On September 14, the show Delicious Intangible Cultural Heritage premiered. On December 15, the film Endless Journey, in which he played Qin Zhe, was released. On December 24, the drama Coming to Myself, in which played the main role Yin Feng/You Yingjun, began filming. That same day, his show Get In the Car Now And Let's Go Travel, premiered. On December 31, he performed the song "What Dreams Are Like" at the Dreams Come True: 2024 Dragon TV New Year's Gala.
In 2024, he attended the AMI Paris Fall/Winter 2024 show during Paris Fashion Week in January. He performed in 2024 China Online Audiovisual Annual Gala. On February 9, he performed at the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. From May to July, he became a new resident of in season 4 of the reality show Fifty Kilometers Taohuawu. On May 25, he appeared in the variety show National Treasures Season 4 as a guest. From September 15 to October 6, he participated in the music competition show Our Song (Season 6). On September 23, You Are My Lover Friend, in which he played the lead Jiang Shiyan, was released on Tencent Video. On December 20, the drama Southern Archives, in which he played the leading role Zhang Haiyan, began filming in Hengdian.
In 2025, he performed the song "Happy New Year" at the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. On January 29, he sang "Wishing You Happiness Year After Year" at the 2025 Beijing TV Spring Festival Gala. On April 17, filming for Southern Archives wrapped in Hainan. On May 16, the music show The Treasured Voice Season 6, in which he participated, aired. On June 6, he performed as Su Shi in the musical To the East the Great River Flows at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. On June 12, the sci-fi TV series The Stars, which he played the leading role Guo Yuan, started filming in Chengdu. On June 18, Created in China was broadcast on CCTV-1. On August 23, he held his first solo concert and 30th birthday fan meeting in Shanghai, with tickets selling out instantly. On August 24, he released his first solo album Maladaptation. On September 25, he attended the BOSS fashion show during Milan Fashion Week. On October 7 and 9, he performed the musical To the East the Great River Flows in Shanghai. In October, he started filming The Mystery of Qin.
Filmography Films Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/ 2013School BusHan YuyangShort film2014FoolYang SensenShort filmThe Winter of SeventeenYang YunfengShort film2017Chosen Short filmIntelligent Machines GirlfriendCui ZeWeb film2023All These YearsLi RanHis first role in a full-length filmElementalWade RippleDubbed in the Chinese Mainland versionEndless JourneyQin Zhe2024The Wild Robot荒野机器人FinkDubbed in the Chinese Mainland version2025Detective Chinatown 1900Bai Zhenbang2026Pegasus 3Li Lun
Television series Year English title Chinese title Role Network. Ref.2016Shuttle Love MillenniumLi HailunHunan TV2017My Huckleberry FriendsLin YangiQIYI2018The Strongest Men of GodWu ZewenYouku2019Young BloodYuan ZhongxinHunan TV, Mango TV, iQIYI2020Skate into LoveLi YubingJiangsu TV, Zhejiang TV, YoukuSymphony's Romance Li ZhenyanHunan TVGo AheadHe Ziqiu2021The Day of Becoming YouJiang YiiQIYIRefinement of FaithJiao YuluHunan TVThe JusticeCheng YizhiHunan TV2022The Murder in KairouteiCheng ChengYoukuThe Heart of GeniusPei ZhiCCTV-8, iQIYIBright FutureLin ZhiweiCCTV-1, Tencent Video, Migu2023Young Blood IIYuan ZhongxinHunan TV, Mango TV2024Tender LightZhou LuoCCTV-8, YoukuYou Are My Lover FriendJiang ShiyanTencent Video2025Me and my FamilyLao YuanHunan TV, Mango TVCameoJustice in the DarkPei SuYouku, WOWOWCreated in ChinaLiu JunCCTV-1, iQIYI, Tencent Video2026Archives: The Nanyang MysteryZhang Haiyan / Zhang HailouiQIYI rowspan="3" Coming to MyselfYin Feng / You YingjunTencent VideoThe StarsGuo YuanTencent VideoThe Unseen Qin Empire Mi Yuan iQIYI
Variety shows
Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/ 2020Little ForestCast member 2021Who's the Murderer Season 6Guest2022Who's the Murderer Season 7明星大侦探7Guest2023Our Inn我们的客栈Cast memberBack to Field Season 7向往的生活GuestYoung Blood Detectives大宋探案局Cast memberDelicious Intangible Cultural Heritage 好吃的非遗Cast memberGet In the Car Now And Let's Go Travel此刻，向远方——朋友请上车Cast member2024National Treasures Season 4国家宝藏GuestFifty Kilometers Taohuawu五十公里桃花坞Cast memberOur Song Season 6我们的歌6Guest2025The Treasured Voice Season 6天赐的声音6Guest
Discography Year English title Chinese title Notes/2014"Be Here for You"等你擦肩The Story of He Jinye OST2015"Believe Love Still Exists" 相信爱，还存在Heartbreak Emergency Department OST2018"Cheer for Youth"打Call青春2019"What Dreams Are Like"梦想的模样Young Blood OST2020"A Ray of Hope"曙光Skate into Love OST"Tempting Heart"心动Skate into Love OST"Heart Warms Heart Equals the World"心暖心等于世界"Hand in Hand"手足Charity song for those who fought against the COVID-19 pandemic2021"My Soul"The Day Of Becoming You OST"Brilliant"光芒The Justice OST"Glimmer"微光The Justice OST2022"A Secret About You"与你有关的秘密Promotional song for When You Be Me”Talking To Myself"自言自语First single 2023"Shattered Time"时间碎了All These Years OST"Stay With Me" (with Ju Jingyi)伴 / Stay With MeRising With the Wind OST2024"Let the misty rain fall"一蓑烟雨Promotional song for the musical Da Jiang Dong Qu"Stargazing" (with Tia Ray)看星星You Are My Lover Friend OST2025"Nice to Meet You" (with Galaxy Express)亿颗原子的距离Single "Unrequited Love"安慰奖“To the East the Great River Flows“大江东去Musical; played the main role Su Shi"Maladaptation"不适应症First album
Awards and nominations Year Awarding Body/Event Category Nominated work Result 20177th iQIYI Scream NightDrama Newcomer of the Year2019"Praise The New Era" New Youth Model Artist Glory CeremonyNew Youth Role Model Artist20207th The Actors of China AwardsExcellent Actor (Emerald Award/Green Group)Forbes ChinaForbes 30 Under 30 (Entertainment and Sports)GQ Men of the Year (China)Popular Actor of the Year2020 Sohu Fashion AwardsNational Drama Male Star of the Year20212020 Weibo AwardsEnterprising Actor of the Year2021 China TV Drama Awards Outstanding Actor of the YearThe Justice202235th Huading AwardsBest Actor in Chinese Modern Dramas2023CMG 1st Chinese TV Drama Annual CeremonyBreakthrough Actor of the YearBright Future1st "New Horn" TV Drama Director's NightBreakthrough Actor of the Year2023 Television Series of China Quality CeremonyQuality Drama Star with Full Media Attention2023 Sohu Fashion AwardsFashion Influential Male Artist of the Year20242024 QQ Music AwardsPeak Heat Male Singer of the Year37th Hundred Flowers AwardsBest NewcomerEndless Journey32nd China TV Golden Eagle AwardBest Supporting ActorBright Future2024 Weibo TV & Internet Video SummitExpressive Actor of the Year2024 Tencent Video All Star NightLeaping Artist of the Year2024 Weibo AwardsExpressive Actor of the YearTender Light; You Are My Lover Friend202522nd Movie Channel Media AwardsMost Media-Anticipated New Actor of the YearDetective Chinatown 190021st Chinese American Film Festival and TV FestivalGolden Angel Awards - Outstanding ActorTender Light
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