The reason you feel this joke harms his reputation is because you’ve interpreted it as a form of racism. However, in China, this kind of joke doesn’t carry that meaning—it’s more about cultural context and differences in interpretation. If it were truly inappropriate, it likely would have been edited out during post-production. So please don’t be overly politically sensitive about it.
If you had actually watched the show carefully, you would know that in one episode, when everyone was required to get into the water, Zhang Linghe was the only one who proactively checked whether the female cast members were on their periods and might feel uncomfortable going in. He even helped communicate with the staff on their behalf.
Maybe you don’t know this, but Chinese variety shows are usually scripted. Each person is given a different persona to make the show more entertaining. Zhang Linghe often deliberately acts less clever on purpose so others can joke about him, and audiences enjoy watching his reactions.
I don’t know the specific incident you’re referring to, but it was most likely for entertainment purposes. In China, joking about accents is very common—every city has its own accent. Just because you haven’t seen others do it doesn’t mean they’ve never said similar things.
Although I don’t want to criticize other male actors here or mention any names—there might even be some you like—the reality is that many actors in the industry don’t have a strong educational background, and some can be quite superficial. Some have been known to act arrogant, mistreat staff, or have messy personal lives, constantly changing partners—you just may not have seen it.
If you judge Zhang Linghe as a shallow person simply because of a type of joke that is commonly made among Chinese people, then that’s really unfair—especially when he is actually someone with good character, a love of learning, no girlfriend, and a very approachable personality.
Also, not everything should be escalated to the level of racism.
Also, I think you may have been misled by some rumors. He is widely recognized as one of the most academically accomplished actors in the Chinese entertainment industry—very intelligent and thoughtful. People who have actually studied or worked with Zhang Linghe, including his classmates, teachers, and colleagues, all speak highly of him. Their perspectives carry far more credibility than conclusions drawn from edited clips or negative online comments.
Here is a more objective explanation of the variety show issue.
China is a very large country with 56 ethnic groups, and people from different regions often have noticeable differences in appearance. In daily life, it is quite common for people to casually comment that someone “looks like they are from a certain region.” In that context, such remarks are usually not intended to be offensive, but rather a habitual way of describing appearances.
During the show, Zhang Linghe made a similar comment in a natural way, and it was not considered inappropriate during editing.
However, after the broadcast, some viewers from Southeast Asia felt offended. In response, he chose to apologize out of respect for their feelings. even knowing it might expose him to more criticism online.
His Instagram account is managed by agency staff, and the way the apology was posted may have come across as less sincere, which led to further misunderstanding.
The purpose of sharing this is simply to provide more context. In situations like this, misunderstandings can easily arise, and public opinion can sometimes be influenced by incomplete information and cultural difference.
💝 A Thank-You Letter from Zhang Linghe Fandom for Pursuit of Jade 💝
🤝 Dear global viewers and fans of Pursuit of Jade,
Hello! It’s a pleasure to connect with you through these words. With heartfelt gratitude, we would like to say a sincere “thank you” to every one of you.
Since its release, Pursuit of Jade has achieved both critical acclaim and strong popularity. It broke the record for the highest popularity among historical dramas on Tencent Video in 2025, and became the first drama co-broadcast on Tencent Video and iQiYi to surpass 10,000 in popularity index.
It has consistently ranked at the top of various charts and sparked enthusiasm among international audiences. Zhang Linghe also became the first actor of his generation to achieve over 10,000 popularity on three major platforms.
We know that these proud achievements would not have been possible without every one of you watching and supporting from behind the screen.
Zhang Linghe brought life to Xie Zheng through his performance, and you gave Xie Zheng a wider world. Thank you for being there every day from the premiere to the finale:
For your creative comments, thoughtful reviews, and insightful analyses—whether imaginative, heartfelt, or humorous—each contribution made Pursuit of Jade and Xie Zheng more vivid.
For your genuine recommendations across platforms and spontaneous word-of-mouth promotion—every sincere “this is so good” and “you should watch this” helped more people discover the drama and its characters.
For standing up in times of doubt and offering support during challenges—your care and protection helped create a warm and positive viewing environment. We remember all of this with deep gratitude.
Because of you, Pursuit of Jade is not just a drama, but a shared memory filled with resonance—a gentle bond formed through mutual connection. Your sincerity has transcended time and distance, affirming the effort Zhang Linghe put in a year ago. Through your voices, more people have come to know him and witness his growth and dedication.
The road ahead is still long. We sincerely welcome you to join this warm community and continue walking alongside him, supporting him as he goes further and steadier on his journey as an actor. We believe Zhang Linghe will carry this support with him and continue striving to bring even more remarkable roles to life.
Once again, thank you to every viewer for your love and support. Together, we have witnessed, protected, and created this precious and heartwarming journey. Every effort you made has been seen, and every bit of sincerity will be cherished.
We also believe that rationality and respect are the greatest support for both Zhang Linghe and all creators. The most meaningful support is to let the work and characters speak for themselves. Since the drama began airing, we have remained focused on the work, and we will continue to encourage positive, respectful discussions and a healthy online environment.
Let this support flow steadily and become a lasting source of strength for his journey ahead 💪
🌿 Though March may come to an end, this encounter and companionship will never truly fade. Wishing you all a smooth road ahead, peace, and happiness in everything you do.
💝 A Thank-You Letter from Zhang Linghe Fandom for Pursuit of Jade 💝
🤝 Dear global viewers and fans of Pursuit of Jade,
Hello! It’s a pleasure to connect with you through these words. With heartfelt gratitude, we would like to say a sincere “thank you” to every one of you.
Since its release, Pursuit of Jade has achieved both critical acclaim and strong popularity. It broke the record for the highest popularity among historical dramas on Tencent Video in 2025, and became the first drama co-broadcast on Tencent Video and iQiYi to surpass 10,000 in popularity index.
It has consistently ranked at the top of various charts and sparked enthusiasm among international audiences. Zhang Linghe also became the first actor of his generation to achieve over 10,000 popularity on three major platforms.
We know that these proud achievements would not have been possible without every one of you watching and supporting from behind the screen.
Zhang Linghe brought life to Xie Zheng through his performance, and you gave Xie Zheng a wider world. Thank you for being there every day from the premiere to the finale:
For your creative comments, thoughtful reviews, and insightful analyses—whether imaginative, heartfelt, or humorous—each contribution made Pursuit of Jade and Xie Zheng more vivid.
For your genuine recommendations across platforms and spontaneous word-of-mouth promotion—every sincere “this is so good” and “you should watch this” helped more people discover the drama and its characters.
For standing up in times of doubt and offering support during challenges—your care and protection helped create a warm and positive viewing environment. We remember all of this with deep gratitude.
Because of you, Pursuit of Jade is not just a drama, but a shared memory filled with resonance—a gentle bond formed through mutual connection. Your sincerity has transcended time and distance, affirming the effort Zhang Linghe put in a year ago. Through your voices, more people have come to know him and witness his growth and dedication.
The road ahead is still long. We sincerely welcome you to join this warm community and continue walking alongside him, supporting him as he goes further and steadier on his journey as an actor. We believe Zhang Linghe will carry this support with him and continue striving to bring even more remarkable roles to life.
Once again, thank you to every viewer for your love and support. Together, we have witnessed, protected, and created this precious and heartwarming journey. Every effort you made has been seen, and every bit of sincerity will be cherished.
We also believe that rationality and respect are the greatest support for both Zhang Linghe and all creators. The most meaningful support is to let the work and characters speak for themselves. Since the drama began airing, we have remained focused on the work, and we will continue to encourage positive, respectful discussions and a healthy online environment.
Let this support flow steadily and become a lasting source of strength for his journey ahead 💪
🌿 Though March may come to an end, this encounter and companionship will never truly fade. Wishing you all a smooth road ahead, peace, and happiness in everything you do.
The more popular you get the more your agency will try to sabotage you by making you take bad scripts. Most of…
Ju Jingyi’s 20-year contract is an exception, because her company operates as an idol training agency. She was part of SNH48, which is modeled after the Japanese group AKB48. The girls in these groups usually start training at around 15 or 16, so they tend to sign much longer contracts.
For regular actors, contracts are typically around 5, 10, or 15 years. Zhang Linghe likely signed his contract in 2019—if it’s a 10-year term, it would expire around 2029.
As someone who has followed the Chinese entertainment industry for quite a long time, I have to say this isn’t…
I'm not sure about the contract details. In fact, the supporting actors are not necessarily from small companies. Some are backed by platform-side entities, such as WeTV and iQIYI, which gives them significantly greater influence in the production process.
By contrast, ZLH’s agency mainly handles talent management and does not participate in post-production, so its bargaining power is relatively limited. Meanwhile, TXW’s company is a casting agency, and is involved in the casting process, it tends to have slightly more influence within the project.
When some dramas begin filming, fans often organize themselves to defend their actors’ interests, speaking out online to push for fair screen time. If they are not firm or vocal enough, capital stakeholders may interpret that as a lack of concern, which can lead to further cuts or adjustments to the actor’s scenes.
As someone who has followed the Chinese entertainment industry for quite a long time, I have to say this isn’t…
In the Chinese entertainment industry, productions usually secure the full script in advance and complete filming accordingly. However, during the shooting process, companies backing supporting actors often require to add scripts separately to push for additional screen time. Then, in post-production, editors may cut down scenes that were originally filmed for the main characters, reallocating that time to supporting roles.
Even though the lead actor is paid a high salary, a drama typically involves multiple stakeholders. Some of these investors are affiliated with supporting actors, and they aim to use the lead’s popularity to boost exposure for those supporting roles, ensuring a better return on investment. As a result, the lead actor primarily serves to attract initial viewership, while making the supporting characters stand out becomes a key objective for certain investors.
Moreover, they are aware that the lead actor’s fans are often reluctant to openly criticize the drama, which can further encourage more aggressive adjustments in favor of supporting roles.
1
Although I don’t want to criticize other male actors here or mention any names—there might even be some you like—the reality is that many actors in the industry don’t have a strong educational background, and some can be quite superficial. Some have been known to act arrogant, mistreat staff, or have messy personal lives, constantly changing partners—you just may not have seen it.
If you judge Zhang Linghe as a shallow person simply because of a type of joke that is commonly made among Chinese people, then that’s really unfair—especially when he is actually someone with good character, a love of learning, no girlfriend, and a very approachable personality.
Also, not everything should be escalated to the level of racism.
China is a very large country with 56 ethnic groups, and people from different regions often have noticeable differences in appearance. In daily life, it is quite common for people to casually comment that someone “looks like they are from a certain region.” In that context, such remarks are usually not intended to be offensive, but rather a habitual way of describing appearances.
During the show, Zhang Linghe made a similar comment in a natural way, and it was not considered inappropriate during editing.
However, after the broadcast, some viewers from Southeast Asia felt offended. In response, he chose to apologize out of respect for their feelings. even knowing it might expose him to more criticism online.
His Instagram account is managed by agency staff, and the way the apology was posted may have come across as less sincere, which led to further misunderstanding.
The purpose of sharing this is simply to provide more context. In situations like this, misunderstandings can easily arise, and public opinion can sometimes be influenced by incomplete information and cultural difference.
🤝 Dear global viewers and fans of Pursuit of Jade,
Hello! It’s a pleasure to connect with you through these words. With heartfelt gratitude, we would like to say a sincere “thank you” to every one of you.
Since its release, Pursuit of Jade has achieved both critical acclaim and strong popularity. It broke the record for the highest popularity among historical dramas on Tencent Video in 2025, and became the first drama co-broadcast on Tencent Video and iQiYi to surpass 10,000 in popularity index.
It has consistently ranked at the top of various charts and sparked enthusiasm among international audiences. Zhang Linghe also became the first actor of his generation to achieve over 10,000 popularity on three major platforms.
We know that these proud achievements would not have been possible without every one of you watching and supporting from behind the screen.
Zhang Linghe brought life to Xie Zheng through his performance, and you gave Xie Zheng a wider world. Thank you for being there every day from the premiere to the finale:
For your creative comments, thoughtful reviews, and insightful analyses—whether imaginative, heartfelt, or humorous—each contribution made Pursuit of Jade and Xie Zheng more vivid.
For your genuine recommendations across platforms and spontaneous word-of-mouth promotion—every sincere “this is so good” and “you should watch this” helped more people discover the drama and its characters.
For standing up in times of doubt and offering support during challenges—your care and protection helped create a warm and positive viewing environment. We remember all of this with deep gratitude.
Because of you, Pursuit of Jade is not just a drama, but a shared memory filled with resonance—a gentle bond formed through mutual connection. Your sincerity has transcended time and distance, affirming the effort Zhang Linghe put in a year ago. Through your voices, more people have come to know him and witness his growth and dedication.
The road ahead is still long. We sincerely welcome you to join this warm community and continue walking alongside him, supporting him as he goes further and steadier on his journey as an actor. We believe Zhang Linghe will carry this support with him and continue striving to bring even more remarkable roles to life.
Once again, thank you to every viewer for your love and support. Together, we have witnessed, protected, and created this precious and heartwarming journey. Every effort you made has been seen, and every bit of sincerity will be cherished.
We also believe that rationality and respect are the greatest support for both Zhang Linghe and all creators. The most meaningful support is to let the work and characters speak for themselves. Since the drama began airing, we have remained focused on the work, and we will continue to encourage positive, respectful discussions and a healthy online environment.
Let this support flow steadily and become a lasting source of strength for his journey ahead 💪
🌿 Though March may come to an end, this encounter and companionship will never truly fade. Wishing you all a smooth road ahead, peace, and happiness in everything you do.
— Zhang Linghe Fandom (Weibo)❤️
🤝 Dear global viewers and fans of Pursuit of Jade,
Hello! It’s a pleasure to connect with you through these words. With heartfelt gratitude, we would like to say a sincere “thank you” to every one of you.
Since its release, Pursuit of Jade has achieved both critical acclaim and strong popularity. It broke the record for the highest popularity among historical dramas on Tencent Video in 2025, and became the first drama co-broadcast on Tencent Video and iQiYi to surpass 10,000 in popularity index.
It has consistently ranked at the top of various charts and sparked enthusiasm among international audiences. Zhang Linghe also became the first actor of his generation to achieve over 10,000 popularity on three major platforms.
We know that these proud achievements would not have been possible without every one of you watching and supporting from behind the screen.
Zhang Linghe brought life to Xie Zheng through his performance, and you gave Xie Zheng a wider world. Thank you for being there every day from the premiere to the finale:
For your creative comments, thoughtful reviews, and insightful analyses—whether imaginative, heartfelt, or humorous—each contribution made Pursuit of Jade and Xie Zheng more vivid.
For your genuine recommendations across platforms and spontaneous word-of-mouth promotion—every sincere “this is so good” and “you should watch this” helped more people discover the drama and its characters.
For standing up in times of doubt and offering support during challenges—your care and protection helped create a warm and positive viewing environment. We remember all of this with deep gratitude.
Because of you, Pursuit of Jade is not just a drama, but a shared memory filled with resonance—a gentle bond formed through mutual connection. Your sincerity has transcended time and distance, affirming the effort Zhang Linghe put in a year ago. Through your voices, more people have come to know him and witness his growth and dedication.
The road ahead is still long. We sincerely welcome you to join this warm community and continue walking alongside him, supporting him as he goes further and steadier on his journey as an actor. We believe Zhang Linghe will carry this support with him and continue striving to bring even more remarkable roles to life.
Once again, thank you to every viewer for your love and support. Together, we have witnessed, protected, and created this precious and heartwarming journey. Every effort you made has been seen, and every bit of sincerity will be cherished.
We also believe that rationality and respect are the greatest support for both Zhang Linghe and all creators. The most meaningful support is to let the work and characters speak for themselves. Since the drama began airing, we have remained focused on the work, and we will continue to encourage positive, respectful discussions and a healthy online environment.
Let this support flow steadily and become a lasting source of strength for his journey ahead 💪
🌿 Though March may come to an end, this encounter and companionship will never truly fade. Wishing you all a smooth road ahead, peace, and happiness in everything you do.
— Zhang Linghe Fandom (Weibo)❤️
For regular actors, contracts are typically around 5, 10, or 15 years. Zhang Linghe likely signed his contract in 2019—if it’s a 10-year term, it would expire around 2029.
In fact, the supporting actors are not necessarily from small companies. Some are backed by platform-side entities, such as WeTV and iQIYI, which gives them significantly greater influence in the production process.
By contrast, ZLH’s agency mainly handles talent management and does not participate in post-production, so its bargaining power is relatively limited. Meanwhile, TXW’s company is a casting agency, and is involved in the casting process, it tends to have slightly more influence within the project.
When some dramas begin filming, fans often organize themselves to defend their actors’ interests, speaking out online to push for fair screen time. If they are not firm or vocal enough, capital stakeholders may interpret that as a lack of concern, which can lead to further cuts or adjustments to the actor’s scenes.
Even though the lead actor is paid a high salary, a drama typically involves multiple stakeholders. Some of these investors are affiliated with supporting actors, and they aim to use the lead’s popularity to boost exposure for those supporting roles, ensuring a better return on investment. As a result, the lead actor primarily serves to attract initial viewership, while making the supporting characters stand out becomes a key objective for certain investors.
Moreover, they are aware that the lead actor’s fans are often reluctant to openly criticize the drama, which can further encourage more aggressive adjustments in favor of supporting roles.