Xie Zheng's Character in 'Chasing Jade' Breaks 200 Million Popularity on iQIYI, Zhang Linghe Shines Even Brighter

Kapanlagi.com - The performance of Xie Zheng's character in the costume drama Chasing Jade is currently a hot topic in the Chinese entertainment industry. The popularity of the character played by Zhang Linghe has skyrocketed, breaking various records on several streaming platforms.

Recent data from iQIYI shows that the character's popularity has exceeded 200 million just a few days after the drama was released. This surge further solidifies Zhang Linghe's position as one of the brightest young actors today.

1. The Popularity of Character Xie Zheng Explodes on iQIYI

The character Xie Zheng, played by Zhang Linghe, achieved remarkable success on iQIYI by surpassing a popularity score of 200 million on March 8, 2026. This record makes him the first film and television character in the history of the platform to reach such a high number. This success occurred just three days after the drama Chasing Jade officially premiered.

Interestingly, Xie Zheng's popularity was already high even before the premiere. On February 27, the character had already surpassed 100 million in popularity on the same platform. This made Zhang Linghe's character the first in iQIYI's history to reach that number before the drama was released.

This surge was also seen on other platforms. On Tencent Video, the popularity of the character played by Zhang Linghe also exceeded 100 million even before the drama aired. The combination of performance on these two major platforms has made Zhang Linghe's name increasingly talked about by viewers.

2. Weibo Index and Industry Data Break Records

Zhang Linghe - copyright: weibo.com

In addition to viewership numbers, the performance of the character Zhang Linghe is also very strong on social media. The character index of Xie Zheng on Weibo surpassed 90 million on March 16 and became the fastest character to achieve high popularity before the premiere in 2026. This achievement immediately sparked significant discussions among drama fans.

The popularity value of actor Zhang Linghe on Weibo even exceeded 100 million. With this achievement, Zhang Linghe became the first actor to reach this milestone on the influence list of actors on the platform.

Hashtags about Zhang Linghe even briefly topped the trending positions.
Data from industry statistical agencies also support this trend. The dominance index of the character Xie Zheng reached over 1.29 million according to Yunhe. This figure is one of the highest peaks for male characters in the Chinese drama industry in 2026.

3. Complex Characters Attract Viewers

Zhang Linghe - copyright: weibo.com

One of the main factors behind the success of this drama is the unique character Xie Zheng. In the story, this character is portrayed as a seemingly fragile young nobleman who actually has a strong side as a general.

This contrast is intensely portrayed by Zhang Linghe.
To delve into the role, Zhang Linghe even lost about 15 pounds. This physical transformation made his appearance look more fragile yet still retained a sharp aura. Many viewers praised Zhang Linghe's expressive eyes that convey the character's emotions deeply.

Some dramatic scenes have also gone viral on the internet. A leaked video of Zhang Linghe looking battered after a battle received nearly 1.4 million likes. This moment further strengthens the tragic yet heroic image of the character.

4. Fan Support and Major Platform Promotions

Zhang Linghe - copyright: weibo.com

The popularity of the character Zhang Linghe is also attributable to the significant support from fans. They even launched an online campaign called "Protect Xie Zheng." This campaign included over 100,000 online viewing sessions that helped boost the popularity data of the drama.

The fans also raised nearly 3 million yuan to purchase promotional packages for the character across various platforms. This move kept the topic of Zhang Linghe consistently appearing on the trending list. This fandom activity serves as an example of the power of modern drama fan communities.

Streaming platforms also capitalized on this momentum. Tencent Video introduced special visual effects for the character, while iQIYI launched promotional animations that were viewed over 100 million times. Global promotion was even expanded through Netflix, which aired the drama outside of China.

5. Zhang Linghe's Career Predicted to Soar Even Higher

Zhang Linghe - copyright: weibo.com

The success of the character Xie Zheng has made Zhang Linghe's position in the industry even stronger. This actor is now recorded as the only actor born after 1995 who has a drama with more than 10,000 viewer index on three major platforms: iQIYI, Tencent Video, and Youku.

Zhang Linghe's popularity has also directly impacted his commercial value. He has secured many new endorsement contracts, including collaborations with luxury brands like Dior. This strengthens Zhang Linghe's image as a young star with great potential.

Looking ahead, Zhang Linghe's team is said to be preparing a long-term career transformation strategy. The focus is on expanding film and drama projects while also building a more stable influence in the entertainment industry. If the next project succeeds, Zhang Linghe's popularity is predicted to continue rising in the coming years.

(kpl/chn)