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| Only a Few Can Do It: Six Chinese Actors Dominate Heat Index on Three Major Platforms. (Credits: Weibo) |
China’s drama industry has entered an era where digital momentum matters more than traditional ratings. Streaming platforms track that momentum through a metric known as the heat index, a figure that captures audience attention, discussion and viewing activity within the platform. While many dramas manage to spike on one service, only a handful of actors have pushed their projects past the major heat index milestones on Tencent Video, iQIYI, and Youku simultaneously — a feat widely viewed as proof of genuine star pull.
The achievement is not easy. Each platform calculates its heat index differently, factoring in viewing activity, user engagement, searches and discussion inside the service. Crossing the upper threshold often signals that a drama has moved beyond casual viewership and into genuine cultural buzz.
For reference, Tencent Video’s high-heat benchmark sits at 30,000, while iQIYI and Youku mark major hits at 10,000 or higher. Reaching that level on one platform is already impressive. Doing it across all three is extremely rare.
At the moment, only a small group of actors can claim that distinction.
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| Pursuit of Jade Hits 31000 Heat Index on Tencent Video |
Why the Heat Index Matters in the Streaming Era
Since the system began appearing around 2018, the heat index has become one of the most closely watched indicators in China’s online entertainment landscape. Unlike raw viewing figures, the metric captures broader attention: how often audiences search for a drama, how much they interact with it, and how actively it circulates inside the platform’s ecosystem.
For actors, crossing a major heat threshold can dramatically elevate industry perception. Producers and investors increasingly treat the numbers as evidence that a star can drive audience interest in the crowded streaming market.
Against that backdrop, the actors below stand out for managing to deliver high-heat dramas across the three biggest Chinese streaming platforms.
Zhao Liying: The Consistent Hitmaker
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| CCTV |
Among the most prominent names is Zhao Liying, whose long list of successful dramas continues to grow.
Her modern drama The Story of Xingfu recorded strong numbers on Youku, while the business drama Wild Bloom drew major attention on iQIYI. More recently, the fantasy epic The Legend of Shen Li captured viewers on Tencent Video, pushing the heat index into the upper tier.
Industry watchers often point to Zhao Liying’s ability to anchor different genres — from rural drama to fantasy romance — as the reason her projects repeatedly find wide audiences.
Esther Yu (Yu Shuxin)
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| Zaobao |
Few young actresses have dominated streaming conversation quite like Esther Yu.
Her breakout fantasy romance Love Between Fairy and Devil became a defining hit for iQIYI. The romantic drama A Romance of the Little Forest performed strongly on Youku, while the more recent fantasy project Love Game in Eastern Fantasy boosted her presence again on Tencent Video.
The result is a rare triple-platform record that confirms Esther Yu’s growing pull with younger audiences.
Zhao Jinmai
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| iQIYI |
Another name on the list is Zhao Jinmai, one of the most closely watched actresses of her generation.
The thriller Reset attracted wide discussion on Tencent Video, while the historical romance The Princess Royal delivered strong numbers on Youku. Meanwhile, the drama Drifting Away secured attention on iQIYI.
Together, the projects show Zhao Jinmai steadily building a reputation as a reliable lead capable of carrying both suspense dramas and period productions.
Bai Jingting: Genre Versatility Pays Off
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| iQIYI |
For Bai Jingting, consistency across different drama styles has been key.
He first captured major attention with the suspense drama Reset on Tencent Video. Historical romantic series New Life Begins and Destined then pushed his popularity further through iQIYI.
The performances strengthened Bai Jingting’s image as an actor comfortable moving between intense thrillers and lighter historical storytelling.
Liu Yuning: From Music Star to Drama Lead
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| Tencent Video |
Singer-turned-actor Liu Yuning has also secured his place on the list.
The historical adventure A Journey to Love achieved high engagement on iQIYI, while The Story of Pearl Girl performed strongly on Youku. Another project, The Prisoner of Beauty, gained attention on Tencent Video and helped cement his standing as a rising drama lead.
His crossover success illustrates how music popularity can translate into strong audience support for drama roles.
Zhang Linghe: The Newest Member of the Club
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| ELLE |
The most recent actor to join the group is Zhang Linghe, whose popularity has surged in recent years.
He first gained widespread attention through The Story of Kunning Palace on iQIYI before strengthening his profile with The Princess Royal on Youku. Now, the ongoing drama Pursuit of Jade has delivered impressive numbers on Tencent Video, officially completing the rare three-platform heat index milestone.
Industry observers see Zhang Linghe as one of the most promising actors of the newer generation, particularly as historical dramas continue to dominate streaming demand.
Online discussion around the list has been lively. Fans of Zhao Liying praised her consistent track record, arguing that her dramas rarely fail to generate strong interest regardless of genre.
Supporters of Esther Yu pointed to her expanding influence among younger viewers, noting that her projects often dominate social media conversation alongside streaming performance.
Meanwhile, many viewers highlighted Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Linghe as representatives of the industry’s next wave, praising their steady career growth and increasingly visible projects.
Some netizens also debated whether the heat index alone should define success, with a few arguing that storytelling quality and long-term cultural impact matter just as much as digital metrics.
Despite those debates, few deny that the heat index has become a central measurement in China’s streaming ecosystem. Crossing the benchmark on multiple platforms signals something rare: a star capable of attracting audiences wherever their drama appears. With competition intensifying and new actors emerging every year, maintaining that level of influence will only become harder.
Which of these actors do you think truly dominates the streaming era? And who might be the next Chinese star to break the three-platform heat index barrier?