Lance Joseph Martinez

From Lecture Halls to Leading Roles: Chinese Drama Actors and Their Degrees

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Education has long been a cornerstone of Chinese culture, with academic achievement often regarded as one of the highest priorities. In fact, China is home to one of the world’s most rigorous college entrance examinations, the Gaokao, a highly competitive test taken by more than 13 million students each year.While a university degree is not a requirement for success in the entertainment industry, many Chinese celebrities have still chosen to pursue higher education alongside their careers. For many, earning a degree remains an important personal milestone, regardless of their fame and success.Beyond the memorable characters they portray on screen and the hit dramas they headline, many of today’s biggest Chinese stars boast impressive academic backgrounds. From engineering to visual communications and film studies, these actors have excelled not only in the entertainment world but also in their lecture halls.With that, METRO takes a look at some of the most popular Chinese drama stars and the college degrees they earned—giving fans yet another reason to admire them beyond their standout performances on screen.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Ao Ruipeng - Game Original Painting Design<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780481090548[image] - 3369808.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @aoruipeng1995</div><div> </div>Born on October 6, 1995, Ao Ruipeng hails from Chongqing, China. He is known for starring in hit dramas such as The Blood of Youth, Wrong Carriage, Right Groom,  Moonlight Mystique, Coroner&#x27;s Diary, and The Seven Relics of Ill Omen.Ao Ruipeng developed an interest in fine arts at a young age and later majored in Game Original Painting Design at Chengdu Vocational University of the Arts. The program focuses on fine arts training while preparing students for careers in the gaming, animation, and digital entertainment industries. He also worked in a game company in Chengdu.<div style="text-align:center"> </div><div style="text-align:center"> </div><div style="text-align:center">Chen Zheyuan - Acting<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780481157305[image] - 4087749.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @chenzheyuanisssme</div><div> </div>Born on October 29, 1996, Chen Zheyuan is from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. He rose to widespread fame through his breakout role in the hit romance drama Hidden Love. He has also starred in several popular series, including the youth romance Our Secret, the fantasy rom-com Mr. Bad, and the action-mystery drama Dark Night and Dawn.Before entering the entertainment industry in 2015, Chen earned a bachelor’s degree in Acting from the Department of Performance at Shenzhen University.The four-year Bachelor of Arts program in Acting for Film, Television, and Theatre, offered through the university’s School of Drama and Film, was established in 1995 and is designed to train future professionals in stage and screen performance, with instruction conducted entirely in Chinese.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Deng Kai - Visual Communication Design</div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780481306486Screenshot 2026-06-03 at 6.08.16 PM.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from Weibo: @邓凯-Kai</div><div> </div>Born on February 8, 1995, in Dalian, Liaoning Province, <a href="https://metro.style/people/2026/4/22/10-things-to-know-about-deng-kai-the-handsome-walking-red-flag-of-pursuit-of-jade-1450" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deng Kai</a> is best known for his role in Pursuit of Jade, where he earned attention for his intense portrayal of Qi Min / Sui Yuanhuai. Often described as a “walking red flag,” his character stands out as a deeply layered antagonist marked by obsession, control, and unpredictability, all while operating from the shadows.Academically, Deng Kai holds a college degree in Visual Communication Design from the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, one of China’s most respected art institutions.The School of Visual Communication Design traces its roots back to a decoration design program established in 1953 and has since grown into one of the academy’s largest and most competitive departments, currently training over 1,700 undergraduate and graduate students.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Leo Wu - Performing Arts<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780481384984[image] - 6122477.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @leowu1226</div><div> </div>Also known as Wu Lei, Leo Wu was born on December 26, 1999, in Shanghai and was raised in Chengdu, Sichuan. He is widely recognized for his leading roles in popular historical and romantic dramas such as Love Like the Galaxy, The Long Ballad, and Amidst a Snowstorm of Love.Wu Lei graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts from the Beijing Film Academy, one of Asia’s most prestigious film institutions. He topped the entrance examination in 2018 and officially completed his studies in 2023.The Beijing Film Academy is a highly regarded public institution in Beijing, China, often referred to as the “Cradle of Chinese Film and Television Talents.” <div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Lin Yi - National Ballroom Dance or DanceSport</div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780481867945[image] - 463638.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @iam_linyi</div><div> </div>Lin Yi, born on January 11, 1999, in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, rose to prominence after his breakout role in the 2019 hit series Put Your Head on My Shoulder. He later solidified his popularity with a steady stream of successful modern dramas, including Love Scenery, Everyone Loves Me, and Smile Code.Before entering acting, Lin Yi pursued dance professionally. In 2015, he was admitted to Beijing Sport University’s National Ballroom Dance program, earning the highest score in Liaoning Province’s Dance Major Unified Examination, before eventually completing his studies there.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Wang Anyu - Broadcasting and Hosting<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780481509925[image] - 4597495.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @waybuss</div><div> </div>Wang Anyu, born on February 3, 1998, in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province, China, has gained recognition for his notable performances in Chinese dramas such as To Fly With You, Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty and Falling Into You.He graduated from the Communication University of China, where he majored in Broadcasting and Hosting. His academic background helped him build strong skills in public speaking and media communication, which later supported his transition into acting.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Yang Yang - Classical Chinese Dance</div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780481599264[image] - 3468044.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @yang_0099</div><div> </div><a href="https://metro.style/beauty/2026/6/2/c-drama-actor-yang-yang-2026-drama-comeback-1400" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yang Yang</a>, born on September 9, 1991, in Shanghai, has ancestral roots in Hefei, Anhui Province. He is widely recognized for his standout dramas, including Love O2O, The King’s Avatar, You Are My Glory, Who Rules the World, and Fireworks in My Heart.Rather than following a traditional academic path, Yang Yang trained in the arts and graduated with a diploma in Classical Chinese Dance from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Arts College in Beijing. He was part of the Dance Department Class of 2003 at the PLA National Defence University College of Military Culture, where he honed his performance foundation before transitioning into acting.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Zhang Linghe - Electrical Engineering<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780481698445[image] - 5401008.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @zhanglinghe__1230</div><div> </div><a href="https://metro.style/people/2026/4/9/get-to-know-chinese-actor-zhang-linghe-0600" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zhang Linghe</a>, born on December 30, 1997, in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, gained widespread attention after his breakout portrayal of Xie Zheng, the Marquis of Wu’an, in the global hit series Pursuit of Jade, marking a major turning point in his acting career. He was also known for being in Maiden Holmes, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Flourish in Time, My Journey to You, and Story of Kunning Palace.Academically strong, Zhang studied Electrical Engineering at Nanjing Normal University. He reportedly excelled in mathematics, achieving an impressive score of 182 out of 200 in the Gaokao mathematics section in 2016, which secured his admission. During his university years, he maintained solid academic performance and developed a strong interest in physics, actively engaging with the school’s Aerospace Society.<div> </div>Lead photos from Weibo: @邓凯-Kai,  @zhanglinghe__1230, and @iam_linyi

Zhang Linghe, an engineering graduate? Wang Anyu, a broadcasting major? Here’s a look at Chinese drama actors and their college degrees.

Zhang Linghe, an engineering graduate? Wang Anyu, a broadcasting major? Here’s a look at Chinese drama actors and their college degrees.

From Lecture Halls to Leading Roles: Chinese Drama Actors and Their College Degrees

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From Lecture Halls to Leading Roles: Chinese Drama Actors and Their College Degrees

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published June 06, 2026 05:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Zhang Linghe

Wang Anyu

Lin Yi

Leo Wu

Ao Ruipeng

Yang Yang

Deng Kai

Chen Zheyuan

Chinese Drama

C Drama

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