17/5/2026 : China biggest news outlet "china news daily " posted an article about Xu Kai, praising his acting in #Eighthundred and his growth as actor through all his projects up until now
This is a big recognition for Xu Kai as an actor ๐
Actor Xu Kai's performance in "Within 800 Meters" has garnered attention. May 13, 2026, 11:51 AM. Source: Beijing Youth Daily.Large fontSmall font ใใHe is an underrated actor among those born in 1995.
ใใWith the popularity of the drama "Within 800 Meters" exceeding 24,000 on the platform, Xu Kai's portrayal of Chen Hui became the first character on Tencent Video's X Theater to surpass 100 million in popularity. In particular, the delicate acting of "a drop of tears with every dumpling" in the ending scene, where Chen Hui is arrested and faces his visiting parents, has been widely shared on social media. "He is such a good actor" has become the audience's credential for this young actor. Ding Yongdai, who plays Chen Hui's father Chen Hongbing in the drama, also praised him, saying, "I think Xu Kai is a very promising actor in the future." Those born in the mid-1990s inevitably face the challenge of career transition as they enter their thirties. Whether to remain entrenched in a safe persona or step out of their comfort zone is a choice that both the actor and their team must make. Chen Hui, the reserved, meticulous, struggling, and ruthless young man in "Within 800 Meters," embodies this choice, showcasing Xu Kai to the industry and audiences a more mature and determined actor.
ใใBreaking out of one's comfort zone and actively choosing to break through with acting skills
ใใFu Heng in "Story of Yanxi Palace", Mo Qing in "The Legends", Han Ting in "You Are More Beautiful Than Starlight", and Yao Zhiming in "The Story of Cheng Huan" โ if Xu Kai was previously "protected" by his roles, then Chen Hui in "800 Meters Around" is a product of Xu Kai actively embracing "danger".
ใใAs the first production of Tencent X Theater in 2026, *Within 800 Meters* is also a high-quality work in the suspense genre. Xu Kai plays Chen Hui, who on the surface is a filial and kind son and a well-rounded ice rink owner. But beneath the surface, he is a highly intelligent villain skilled in psychological manipulation, deceiving even his experienced police officer father, Chen Hongbing. The idea of "playing a villain well and a good guy badly" is actually a misconception in acting, a misunderstanding of the complexities of human nature. Xu Kai's portrayal of Chen Hui avoids these pitfalls with his solid acting skills.
ใใHe exploited the silent fatherly love and the tolerant motherly love prevalent in East Asian families, concealing his "selling cough syrup" activities from his parents for a long time. He also used Huo Kaiming's volatile and suspicious nature to orchestrate Lu Yuan's murder. He could defuse the crisis by immediately responding to questioning about bloodstains, claiming the blood was from Song Ge's medical treatment for a vascular fistula. He even taught Song Ge to take medication beforehand to change her voice, enabling her to pass the identification process smoothly. These details have all become iconic scenes on social media. While the script certainly imbues the character with these traits, the actor's "translation" through eye contact, body language, and even micro-expressions collectively creates a chilling and memorable experience for the audience. As part of the performance, Xu Kai also used physiological reactions to their fullest extent in dialogue-free situations, allowing the audience to empathize and enter Chen Hui's contradictory and twisted inner world.
ใใIn portraying Chen Hui's gradual descent into depravity, Xu Kai masterfully captured the crucial nuances. Chen Hui's initial motivation for "selling goods" was to alleviate his family's financial burden and pay for Songge's kidney transplant. It's easy to go astray, but difficult to turn back. Driven by desire and swept along by fate, Xu Kai's emotional intensity resonated with the audience. This is why, when Chen Hui received dumplings from his parents as a farewell gift, viewers wept alongside him. Chen Hui's evil deeds were real, as was the family's bitterness. The fact that this portrayal prompted viewers to reflect further demonstrates the depth and skill of Xu Kai's acting.
ใใThe long-term perspective behind stable "drama-carrying" performance data
ใใWhen discussing the landscape of post-95 generation actors, Xu Kai is often not a traffic magnet who frequently trends on social media. However, if you look back at his past works, it's not hard to see that, for the platform, he is a reliable and well-rounded actor.
ใใAccording to data from Yunhe, Xu Kai's dramas have the highest cumulative effective viewership among 95 shows. These include "Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain," "The Legends," "Arsenal Military Academy," "You Are Beautiful When You Smile," "She and Her Perfect Husband," "Ancient Love Poetry," "You Are More Beautiful Than Starlight," and "The Story of Cheng Huan," covering both historical and modern dramas. A total of eight of these dramas have surpassed 30 million views on Yunhe.
ใใIn terms of platforms, Xu Kai starred in 6 dramas that entered the top 20 of Tencent Video's New Year's ranking, and 3 of them were among the top 10 dramas of iQiyi's 2019 Top Ten Dramas.
ใใThe significance of this data lies in its confirmation of a fact: Xu Kai is an actor born in the 1990s who can successfully navigate both period and modern dramas, and achieve both critical acclaim and widespread popularity. Regardless of changes in subject matter, release schedule, or platform, he consistently delivers stable results, becoming a reliable "ratings base" in the eyes of platforms and production companies.
ใใStep by step, Xu Kai has not been confined by his good looks, but has actively explored creative spaces that are challenging, full of contrasts, and involve deep psychology. In terms of genre, he has dabbled in period dramas, urban dramas, suspense, and fantasy, avoiding overexploitation of a single genre. In terms of role weight, his leading roles reflect the platform's trust and the audience's support. While the market chases short-term popularity, Xu Kai has chosen a slow and solid path.
ใใGo global and be a pioneer in cultural export
ใใXu Kai's career trajectory has long transcended the domestic market. His role in "Story of Yanxi Palace" was distributed in over 90 countries and regions, topping Google's global TV drama search list and receiving coverage from authoritative international media outlets such as the BBC and Variety. As WeTV's global ambassador, his starring role in "You Are Beautiful When You Smile" remained in the top ten of overseas charts for 15 consecutive months, and "Pray for Today" topped the popularity charts in over 25 countries and regions. Furthermore, Disney+ acquired the exclusive overseas rights to "Midnight Return," making Xu Kai the first actor born in 1995 to have a Disney+ production "bought" for release.
ใใThe industry honors such as Singapore STARHUB Best Chinese Male Artist, Outstanding Young Actor at the US-China Television Festival, and Tencent Starlight Awards Most Popular Overseas Actor of the Year are authoritative certifications of Xu Kai's professionalism and influence. ใใAs a young actor, Xu Kai may not always be on the trending topics list, but he is definitely a name that comes to mind when production companies need a male actor who can handle tens of millions of views, portray complex human nature, and sell the copyrights globally.
It would be great if it's true but unfortunately that specific melon account is 1 of the least credible ones on…
True that . But the timing of it just before kai went on GE ..is so suspicious . And the hashtag at the middle of night saying " xu kai didn't renew his contract " had some preposterous and malicious posts
Aww his smile ( a glimpse ) looks like the kid is feeling hot , hence the ๐ชญ, who 's brilliant idea was it to dress him up in layers of what looks like thick cloth ? ๐๐ Poor kid
Just sharing my mind - the recent "contract non renewal " trend on weibo is highly suspicious timing , just when xu kai went for filming GE8 . Besides YZ posted a sham post neither condoning/ nor condemning the rumor and was focused on promoting his own show . All the while he bought a trend hashtag of "YZ denies the contract non renewal rumor ".. which he never did in the first place
I just want to appeal to all fans .. to trust Kai and his decisions . He knows his situation best . Let's support him in whatever he decides . Let's not get our emotions as fans in the way.
A new melon: ๐ #XuKai will not be renewing his contract with Huanyu Entertainment upon its expiration.https://x.com/i/status/2053480912684462326Again,…
The actual "melon" post OP wasn't the melon owner either . Just a delusional anti fan , who used to post prolifically badmouthing kai during 800 broadcast .
It would be great if it's true but unfortunately that specific melon account is 1 of the least credible ones on…
No. This originated from a douban post by any anti fan , which gained traction within few minutes . All the yxh in China and X are just copy pasting her post
Rumors are that the Episode numbers have been reduced from 24 earlier to 21 . If it's true , only God knows which part of the screenplay is gonna be axed and will it be smooth editing
This is a big recognition for Xu Kai as an actor ๐
https://www.chinanews.com.cn/cul/2026/05-13/8746398.shtml?
Actor Xu Kai's performance in "Within 800 Meters" has garnered attention.
May 13, 2026, 11:51 AM. Source: Beijing Youth Daily.Large fontSmall font
ใใHe is an underrated actor among those born in 1995.
ใใWith the popularity of the drama "Within 800 Meters" exceeding 24,000 on the platform, Xu Kai's portrayal of Chen Hui became the first character on Tencent Video's X Theater to surpass 100 million in popularity. In particular, the delicate acting of "a drop of tears with every dumpling" in the ending scene, where Chen Hui is arrested and faces his visiting parents, has been widely shared on social media. "He is such a good actor" has become the audience's credential for this young actor. Ding Yongdai, who plays Chen Hui's father Chen Hongbing in the drama, also praised him, saying, "I think Xu Kai is a very promising actor in the future."
Those born in the mid-1990s inevitably face the challenge of career transition as they enter their thirties. Whether to remain entrenched in a safe persona or step out of their comfort zone is a choice that both the actor and their team must make. Chen Hui, the reserved, meticulous, struggling, and ruthless young man in "Within 800 Meters," embodies this choice, showcasing Xu Kai to the industry and audiences a more mature and determined actor.
ใใBreaking out of one's comfort zone and actively choosing to break through with acting skills
ใใFu Heng in "Story of Yanxi Palace", Mo Qing in "The Legends", Han Ting in "You Are More Beautiful Than Starlight", and Yao Zhiming in "The Story of Cheng Huan" โ if Xu Kai was previously "protected" by his roles, then Chen Hui in "800 Meters Around" is a product of Xu Kai actively embracing "danger".
ใใAs the first production of Tencent X Theater in 2026, *Within 800 Meters* is also a high-quality work in the suspense genre. Xu Kai plays Chen Hui, who on the surface is a filial and kind son and a well-rounded ice rink owner. But beneath the surface, he is a highly intelligent villain skilled in psychological manipulation, deceiving even his experienced police officer father, Chen Hongbing. The idea of "playing a villain well and a good guy badly" is actually a misconception in acting, a misunderstanding of the complexities of human nature. Xu Kai's portrayal of Chen Hui avoids these pitfalls with his solid acting skills.
ใใHe exploited the silent fatherly love and the tolerant motherly love prevalent in East Asian families, concealing his "selling cough syrup" activities from his parents for a long time. He also used Huo Kaiming's volatile and suspicious nature to orchestrate Lu Yuan's murder. He could defuse the crisis by immediately responding to questioning about bloodstains, claiming the blood was from Song Ge's medical treatment for a vascular fistula. He even taught Song Ge to take medication beforehand to change her voice, enabling her to pass the identification process smoothly. These details have all become iconic scenes on social media. While the script certainly imbues the character with these traits, the actor's "translation" through eye contact, body language, and even micro-expressions collectively creates a chilling and memorable experience for the audience. As part of the performance, Xu Kai also used physiological reactions to their fullest extent in dialogue-free situations, allowing the audience to empathize and enter Chen Hui's contradictory and twisted inner world.
ใใIn portraying Chen Hui's gradual descent into depravity, Xu Kai masterfully captured the crucial nuances. Chen Hui's initial motivation for "selling goods" was to alleviate his family's financial burden and pay for Songge's kidney transplant. It's easy to go astray, but difficult to turn back. Driven by desire and swept along by fate, Xu Kai's emotional intensity resonated with the audience. This is why, when Chen Hui received dumplings from his parents as a farewell gift, viewers wept alongside him. Chen Hui's evil deeds were real, as was the family's bitterness. The fact that this portrayal prompted viewers to reflect further demonstrates the depth and skill of Xu Kai's acting.
ใใThe long-term perspective behind stable "drama-carrying" performance data
ใใWhen discussing the landscape of post-95 generation actors, Xu Kai is often not a traffic magnet who frequently trends on social media. However, if you look back at his past works, it's not hard to see that, for the platform, he is a reliable and well-rounded actor.
ใใAccording to data from Yunhe, Xu Kai's dramas have the highest cumulative effective viewership among 95 shows. These include "Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain," "The Legends," "Arsenal Military Academy," "You Are Beautiful When You Smile," "She and Her Perfect Husband," "Ancient Love Poetry," "You Are More Beautiful Than Starlight," and "The Story of Cheng Huan," covering both historical and modern dramas. A total of eight of these dramas have surpassed 30 million views on Yunhe.
ใใIn terms of platforms, Xu Kai starred in 6 dramas that entered the top 20 of Tencent Video's New Year's ranking, and 3 of them were among the top 10 dramas of iQiyi's 2019 Top Ten Dramas.
ใใThe significance of this data lies in its confirmation of a fact: Xu Kai is an actor born in the 1990s who can successfully navigate both period and modern dramas, and achieve both critical acclaim and widespread popularity. Regardless of changes in subject matter, release schedule, or platform, he consistently delivers stable results, becoming a reliable "ratings base" in the eyes of platforms and production companies.
ใใStep by step, Xu Kai has not been confined by his good looks, but has actively explored creative spaces that are challenging, full of contrasts, and involve deep psychology. In terms of genre, he has dabbled in period dramas, urban dramas, suspense, and fantasy, avoiding overexploitation of a single genre. In terms of role weight, his leading roles reflect the platform's trust and the audience's support. While the market chases short-term popularity, Xu Kai has chosen a slow and solid path.
ใใGo global and be a pioneer in cultural export
ใใXu Kai's career trajectory has long transcended the domestic market. His role in "Story of Yanxi Palace" was distributed in over 90 countries and regions, topping Google's global TV drama search list and receiving coverage from authoritative international media outlets such as the BBC and Variety. As WeTV's global ambassador, his starring role in "You Are Beautiful When You Smile" remained in the top ten of overseas charts for 15 consecutive months, and "Pray for Today" topped the popularity charts in over 25 countries and regions. Furthermore, Disney+ acquired the exclusive overseas rights to "Midnight Return," making Xu Kai the first actor born in 1995 to have a Disney+ production "bought" for release.
ใใThe industry honors such as Singapore STARHUB Best Chinese Male Artist, Outstanding Young Actor at the US-China Television Festival, and Tencent Starlight Awards Most Popular Overseas Actor of the Year are authoritative certifications of Xu Kai's professionalism and influence.
ใใAs a young actor, Xu Kai may not always be on the trending topics list, but he is definitely a name that comes to mind when production companies need a male actor who can handle tens of millions of views, portray complex human nature, and sell the copyrights globally.
ใใSource: Beijing Youth Daily
On Jiangsu Satellite TV's "Happy Theater" the show will premiere on May 20th.
Eat and enjoy kai kai . You need those calories later ๐
https://x.com/i/status/2053781249425313869
I LOVE his smile ๐๐
https://x.com/i/status/2053780767281742008
Aww his smile ( a glimpse ) looks like the kid is feeling hot , hence the ๐ชญ, who 's brilliant idea was it to dress him up in layers of what looks like thick cloth ? ๐๐ Poor kid
https://x.com/i/status/2053779803346755625
http://xhslink.com/o/8p47pvD6MKR
Got scared even before entering the premise ? ๐ That's so typical of soso . Loved the way he was all so cautious ๐
https://x.com/i/status/2053779105494266100
http://xhslink.com/o/8O2HhPTf7J0
๐ Soso got startled AGAIN ๐
https://x.com/i/status/2053778681303331116
http://xhslink.com/o/9jRRkdPn0VI
Are they going inside now ?
Live the playful vibes from kai
https://x.com/i/status/2053778155572428952
http://xhslink.com/o/ARaOhENP4KJ
I just want to appeal to all fans .. to trust Kai and his decisions . He knows his situation best .
Let's support him in whatever he decides . Let's not get our emotions as fans in the way.
If it's true , only God knows which part of the screenplay is gonna be axed and will it be smooth editing