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| Tencent Video Reveals 2025’s Most-Loved Chinese Drama Characters: A Record-Breaking Race to 100 Million (Photo: Tencent/Weibo) |
As 2025 winds down, Tencent Video has dropped its annual ranking of the platform’s most popular C-drama characters — and the numbers this year are nothing short of wild. Instead of relying on general buzz or social chatter, Tencent uses its in-house “popularity index”, a real-time metric that tracks character-specific engagement across the platform.
A key benchmark is how quickly a character can blast past 100 million popularity points. That speed — plus continued momentum afterwards — determines who makes the cut. The faster they hit the milestone, the higher they rank. Simple, ruthless, and a pretty decent reflection of who truly captivated audiences this year.
Top 10 Most Popular Chinese Drama Characters on Tencent Video in 2025
No. 10: Yu Jin – Zhang Wanyi (Si Jin)
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Zhang Wanyi’s Yu Jin earns the final spot with a steady climb driven by solid writing and a grounded character arc. Yu Jin’s quiet strength and layered emotional beats kept viewers hooked, especially as the drama picked up momentum mid-season. While not the flashiest contender, his consistent performance secured him a well-deserved place in the Top 10.
No. 9: Tang Qi – Tan Jianci (Filter)
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Tan Jianci continues his streak of charismatic, nuanced roles with Tang Qi — a character who blends sharp reasoning with understated charm.
His scenes often dominate trending charts, and his performance adds emotional depth to Filter’s twisty mystery. The character’s ascent in the index came as no surprise to loyal fans.
No. 8: Mei Zhuyu – Xu Kai (Moonlit Reunion)
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Mei Zhuyu stands out with his elegant, restrained portrayal of love, regret, and second chances. Xu Kai’s visuals paired with a surprisingly heartfelt arc made Mei Zhuyu one of this year’s quiet fan favourites.
Viewers praised how he balanced vulnerability and confidence, helping him cruise past the 100-million mark.
No. 7: Zhuang Hanyan – Chen Duling (The Glory)
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Chen Duling’s Zhuang Hanyan is easily one of Tencent’s breakout female performances this year. Sharp, composed, and impossible to ignore, she moves with a grace that masks her iron will.
Her strategic mind and emotional depth earned praise from audiences who’ve been craving more complex female leads.
No. 6: Lin Yan – Li Yunrui (Yummy Yummy Yummy!)
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Lin Yan is the definition of chaotic fun — bold, messy, stylish, and somehow still deeply relatable. Li Yunrui’s comedic timing made the character a social-media darling, with clips from the drama going viral almost weekly.
Lin Yan hit 100 million popularity at impressive speed thanks to the show's youthful and energetic fanbase.
No. 5: Nie Jiuluo – Dilraba Dilmurat (Love on the Turquoise Land)
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At first glance, Nie Jiuluo is a serene sculptor — but beneath that calm exterior lies “The Mad Blade”, a feared member of the Nan Mountain Hunters. Elegant, clever, and effortlessly magnetic, she blends beauty with lethal skill.
Dilraba revealed she felt like she was “filming two dramas at once”, juggling heavy emotional scenes with intense action choreography.
The effort clearly paid off: Nie Jiuluo soared past 100 million popularity in just six days, securing one of the highest placements for a female character this year.
No. 4: Wei Shao – Liu Yuning (The Prisoner of Beauty)
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Wei Shao has the aura of a fearsome leader, yet beneath that steel exterior sits a quiet warmth fans adore. Haunted by an old tragedy, his bitterness softens after meeting Xiao Qiao (Song Zuer), making his emotional transformation one of the series’ strongest points.
Liu Yuning’s towering 190 cm frame and commanding screen presence made him a near-perfect casting choice. Wei Shao hit 100 million in just five days and eventually accumulated a staggering 400 million total points.
No. 3: Xu Yan – Zhao Lusi (Love’s Ambition)
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One of the most talked-about female characters of 2025, Xu Yan’s storyline is nothing short of addictive. Growing up without affection, she claws her way up to become a celebrated TV host.
Determined to break free from her circumstances, she remakes her identity and marries into wealth — strategic, bold, and heartbreakingly human.
Zhao Lusi’s performance adds bite and elegance to every scene she’s in. Xu Yan reached 100 million popularity in only four days, making her the fastest-rising female character on the list.
No. 2: Wei Yun – Ding Yuxi (Fight for Love)
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Wei Yun’s life collapses early when he witnesses the brutal loss of his family. The cheerful teenager transforms into a formidable general, hardened by grief and driven by revenge. His emotional journey — from sunshine to storm to steel — resonated strongly with viewers.
Despite having less screen time than the female lead Victoria Song, Wei Yun smashed the 100-million threshold in just 21 hours, a testament to Ding Yuxi’s dedicated fanbase. Fight for Love may have scored a lukewarm 5.3 on Douban, but its male lead’s popularity soared.
No. 1: Xiao Qiushui – Cheng Yi (The Journey of Legend)
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Cheng Yi takes the crown with a performance that’s equal parts ambitious and electrifying. Playing three roles — modern-day office worker Xiao Mingming, heroic Xiao Qiushui, and antagonist Li Chenzhou — he carries the entire narrative on his shoulders.
Xiao Qiushui’s journey from an ordinary man to a fearless martial hero leading the “Shenzhou Brotherhood” gripped viewers from the start. Even with the drama attracting mixed opinions — from behind-the-scenes shots to debates over diction — Cheng Yi’s action scenes drew constant praise.
Fueled by his success in Mysterious Lotus Casebook, the hype reached a fever pitch.
The result?
Xiao Qiushui broke Tencent Video’s record, reaching 100 million popularity in just 2 hours and 43 minutes, securing the No. 1 spot by a landslide.
How Tencent Video Measures Drama Character Popularity
Tencent’s “character popularity index” is an internal metric calculated through:
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character-specific search volume on the platform,
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engagement on character-tagged clips,
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real-time interaction during episode broadcasts,
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discussion volume across Tencent’s comment ecosystem,
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and internal heat-tracking tools used to monitor audience interest.
A character’s ranking is defined by how quickly they surpass the 100-million threshold, followed by their overall upward momentum during the broadcast window.