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| Chen Zheyuan’s 260,000 Yuan Red Envelopes Go Viral During Lunar New Year 2026 (Photo: Weibo) |
Chinese actor Chen Zheyuan kicked off Lunar New Year 2026 by handing out 260,000 yuan (around USD 36,000) in digital red envelopes, instantly dominating Weibo’s trending searches and once again cementing his reputation as one of the most generous celebrities during the festive season.
Over the past few years, the red envelope tradition has quietly become a competitive highlight among Chinese stars every Lunar New Year’s Eve. Fans log in, refresh their feeds, and wait for notifications, hoping to grab a share. And when it comes to scale, openness and consistency, Chen Zheyuan has become one of the most anticipated names on the list.
This year, Chen Zheyuan celebrated the festival back in his hometown with his family. Before the big giveaway, he shared photos of his reunion dinner, giving followers a rare peek at his cosy home atmosphere.
The warm lighting, the packed dining table, and the presence of his grandparents made it feel less like a celebrity stunt and more like a genuine family celebration. He even invited his grandparents to send New Year greetings, adding an unexpectedly touching layer to the online festivities.
Then came the headline moment. 260,000 yuan in digital red envelopes, open to everyone without entry restrictions. No fan club gatekeeping, no complicated conditions.
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Just pure luck and fast fingers. The amount, equivalent to roughly USD 36,000, immediately pushed his name back into the top searches.
As expected, the comment section exploded.
Actress Bai Lu joined the fun by calling him the “God of Wealth”, a playful nod to both the festive spirit and the jaw-dropping amount.
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Chen Zheyuan didn’t let the moment slide — he cheekily promoted Bai Lu’s latest drama in response, turning the interaction into free cross-promotion wrapped in friendly banter.
Bai Lu also called him “951”, a lighthearted numeric slang in Mandarin often used online to praise someone as impressive. The exchange felt natural, not staged, and fans loved seeing two popular stars joking around in such an easygoing way.
One of the most amusing moments came after the distribution ended. Chen Zheyuan attempted to grab a red envelope himself using his mum’s phone — and failed.
Instead of playing it cool, he jokingly acted annoyed, which only made viewers laugh more. It was chaotic, relatable and oddly wholesome.
What to expect from this kind of celebrity New Year tradition? Big numbers, real-time excitement, playful interactions, and a mix of family warmth and online frenzy. It’s part generosity, part digital carnival, and part fan-service masterclass.
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But Chen Zheyuan didn’t stop at the public giveaway. Knowing not everyone would be lucky enough to grab one, he also distributed separate red envelopes inside his fan group.
On top of that, he added autographed gifts as extra bonuses. Fans responded by sending red envelopes back to him in the group, encouraging him to try his luck too. The result? A two-way interaction that felt surprisingly balanced for a star-fan dynamic.
Some praised him as consistently generous and admired the fact that he keeps the giveaway barrier-free. Others joked that their fingers weren’t fast enough and demanded “training sessions” before next year. A small number questioned whether such large public giveaways create pressure among celebrities to compete on amounts.
Meanwhile, screenshots reportedly circulated among Korean netizens as well, with some expressing surprise at the scale of the gesture.
Regardless of differing opinions, one thing is clear: Chen Zheyuan has successfully turned Lunar New Year red envelopes into an annual personal brand moment. It’s festive, strategic, and highly shareable.
With every passing year, expectations only grow. So the real question now is — can he top this in 2027, or has he already set the bar too high?
What do you think about celebrity red envelope culture? Would you join in just for the thrill, or do you prefer a quieter celebration?