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| Li Xian’s Wildlife Photography Featured in Civil Service Interview Prompt (Cenews/Weibo) |
You know you’ve made a cultural impact when your weekend hobby ends up in a civil service interview.
That’s exactly what happened to Chinese actor Li Xian, whose love for bird photography somehow became an official exam question in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region’s (civil servant) selection process.
And yep — social media went wild, trending tag!
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It all kicked off after a test taker shared their exam experience online, claiming one of the interview questions revolved around “Li Xian photographing birds”.
That little post blew up faster than a kingfisher diving into a lake.
According to netizen memory (because the actual questions are state secrets, apparently), the prompt read something like this:
“As the migratory bird season arrives, many parts of the country have entered the prime period for birdwatching. A masked artist entered a park and captured many vivid photos of waterbirds, attracting netizen attention. Many followed suit, joining the ‘migratory bird tribe’ to photograph their local ecological scenery. What’s your opinion on this?”
While the question never directly names Li Xian, everyone and their grandma knew exactly who it was referring to.
And to be fair, it's not the first time he’s been in the birdwatching spotlight.
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Not Just a Passing Fancy — The "Li Xian Bird Effect"
Li Xian’s bird photography isn’t just a cute celebrity side hobby anymore.
Back in April, even China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment gave him a shout-out, calling him a "Floral and Avian Ambassador" — a cheeky nod to his character from Flourished Peony, but also a legit endorsement of his environmental influence.
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He’s been snapping waterbirds all over, especially around Yuyuantan Park, which suddenly became a hot birdwatching spot thanks to his posts.
Netizens dubbed him part of the "masked birdwatcher army", and soon, thousands were posting their own wildlife photos, chasing similar vibes.
This unexpected trend even caught the attention of local culture and tourism bureaus, who began tagging Li Xian and cheekily inviting him to their cities to capture more natural beauty.
Not bad for a bloke with a camera and a pair of binoculars.
The Exam That Broke the Internet (Sort Of)
Now, with his bird pics ending up as part of an actual provincial-level civil service interview, the fandom's feeling half proud, half baffled.
Some netizens joked, “Only Li Xian could turn an ecological moment into a test question.”
Others said, “Imagine studying politics and current events, and then getting quizzed on a celebrity’s bird photos!”
Officials from the Hohhot Personnel Examination Center, when asked by reporters, gave the classic no-comment.
They clarified that the questions are set uniformly across Inner Mongolia and are confidential — meaning they couldn’t confirm the content, but didn’t deny it either.
Meanwhile, online civil service prep accounts have been circulating the “recalled” question text alongside other 2025 interview prompts — and yep, the Li Xian reference is right there.
Birdwatching? More Like Brandwatching
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Li Xian’s subtle environmental influence shows how celebs can drive public awareness without screaming it from the rooftops.
Whether intentional or not, he’s sparked an eco-friendly domino effect that reached exam halls, park trails, and government social media accounts alike.
He’s still posting nature shots on his socials — mostly without showing his face — and fans keep dropping supportive comments, from “So peaceful” to “Let me know the camera model, please!”
Who knew that picking up a camera would lead to nationwide eco-tourism buzz and become civil servant material?
Moral of the story? Take your hobbies seriously.
You never know when they’ll end up in someone’s job interview.