Wallace Huo isn't the only one who travels back and forth in time.

Not long ago, Wallace Huo’s new movie “Super Dimensional Reinforcements 超时空救兵” began to show in theaters. In addition to looking adorkable, Wallace Huo’s character is an aspiring author who wrote “The Legend of Shi Kejin.” The publisher scoffs at Wallace’s work and, during a meteor shower, Wallace is suddenly transported back to the Tang. There, he meets his idol Shi Kejin (played by Dyland Kuo) himself, as well as Shi Kejin’s little sister (played by Jing Tian)…Poet Li Bai also appears, played by the director, Lin Zicong.

Stills from the film can be found under the cut. Watch a one minute trailer here.

Alright, put away the knife; I'll wear a different pair of pants.

Happy-go-lucky? Not this time for actress Tang Yan.

Actresses Tang Yan (Chinese Paladin 3, My Daughters, Love Waking Up) Lv Yi (Fairy in Wonderland) move beyond their usual sweetness to become special agents in upcoming series Agent X. In this first mainland idol series on special agents, Tang Yan meets director and boss Luo Jin (Beauties of the Emperor), and the two fall in love in the midst of danger and suspense.

I think it’s really awesome how quickly the Chinese industry has been pushing its boundaries in modern dramas. While the beginning of the rise of idol dramas over the last couple of years have resulted in mostly remakes and clichéd subjects, producers are beginning to explore with new genres. 2011 had the first drama blending a video game – real life scenario, and 2012 will see a modern series starring Ma Tianyu that does the same. Meanwhile, fierce is the way to go for both Agent X and Spicy Soldiers, the first idol series on special forces by Perfect World. Following Ugly Wudi’s first musical series, eeMedia will give its own shot with an upcoming musical drama.

sources: Tang Yan’s weibo, 163

Huang Xiaoming steps into the role of another legendary hero.

Huang Xiaoming of “Return of the Condor Heroes” fame is to star in “The Patriot Yue Fei 精忠岳飞”as the title character, the staunch Song general Yue Fei. The 60-episode series is estimated to be broacast in December and will chronicle Yue Fei’s life from his lowly beginnings to his ultimate demise by the machinations of Qin Hui, to be played by Gallen Lo. More pictures of Huang Xiaoming in costume under the cut.

As “The Patriot Yue Fei” will be a war genre story, it’s not surprising that the cast is dominated by males. In fact, so far ”The Patriot of Yue Fei”  seems to feature no leading women whatsoever. (Given the role the historical Yue Fei’s mother played in his life, however, this could prove to be wrong.) Fan Bingbing will not be acting, but she has invested in the production.

source

Even more pictures here.

One of China's most influential writers, Han Han hopes to influence the world with his writings.

Author/ critic/racecar driver Han Han will be published in English this fall  through American publishing company  Simon and Schuster,  according to a New Yorker article last year.  A collection of his blog posts and short issue as well as a novel is currently planned for the author.

The author, known for his subversive tales and the edgy comments, has recently been brought to the spotlight in Western media, with the Times naming him one of the 100 most influential people in the world and publications New York Times featuring him.   In China, he is embroiled in his own news wars, with the threat of a lawsuit against a defamer.  Last year, his book “1988: I want to talk with the world” was China’s 4th most sold book, just after two of Guo Jingming’s books and a first translation of A Hundred Years of Solitude (a huge step up from 2010, where the most popular translated novel was Twilight) .

Hawick Lau and Yang Mi sealed their love with a kiss both in and out of the drama

Want to see the drama that made Yang Mi and Hawick Lau fall in love with it? Hunan TV knows you do, because as soon as the dating announcement was made, they pushed back one of their already publicized dramas to quickly make room for Ruyi/Happiness, which will air on the 29th with three episodes.

Watch the opening theme by Yang Mi below, and the ending duet by the two under the cut.

One of them is Han Chinese, can you tell who?

Since the first post on the diverseness of China’s stars, many new artists have came out with their own unique looks and cultural flair.  Several Uyghur artists have especially been taking on more mainstream roles recently, making the face of Chinese entertainment that much prettier.

Something to note amongst these stars is that very few of them are famous because of their ethnicity, but rather due to their general abilities. It’s also something that was brought to my attention in this year’s CCTV Spring Festival Gala. Despite the elimination of the usual group songs by ethnic minorities, this year’s gala had as many if not more ethnic minorities than usual in almost every category of performers, from host Sa Beining to singers like Jin Mei’er and Cai Guoqing and to pop performer Han Geng.

A roundup of Chinese artists who came into the spotlight (or at least my notice) since last post, per suggestion from Benji.

Gulnazar (Uyghur, Xinjiang Urumqi)
Shanghai Tangren company
current Beijing Film Academy student
second lead in upcoming drama Scar of Heaven

Bai’er (Uyghur, Xinjiang)
pop singer

Medina Maimaiti (Uyghur, Xinjiang Urumqi)
Shanghai New Image (Hunan TV – Qiong Yao)
Princess Fragrance in the new My Fair Princess/Huan Zhu Ge Ge
supporting actress in upcoming drama Female Prime Minister

Apaerjiang Tuersun (Uyghur, Xinjiang Hetian)
Central Drama Academy graduate
Prince of the Wuji Kingdom in New Journey to the West
Persian Prince in Daming Palace film

In case you’re wondering, of the four Hui’s listed here,  Ma Tianyu and Zhang Rui are religious (co-star Li Sheng didn’t eat pork products for three months in order to film kissing scenes with Zhang Rui + Medina) . I have read that Li Sidanni is not from fans, and I don’t think Liu Shishi is, but that’s just a guess. Either way, I still ship her and Ma Tianyu.

Ma Tianyu (Hui, Shandong Dezhou)
Singer
Beijing Film Academy graduate
Actor in The Tale of Daiyu, Strange Hero YiZhiMei, etc.

Liu Shishi (Hui, Beijing)
Shanghai Tangren
Lead actress of Strange Hero YiZhiMei, Bu Bu Jin Xing, etc.

Zhang Rui (Hui, Liaoning Jinzhou)
Shanghai New Image (Hunan TV – Qiong Yao)
Central Drama Academy graduate
“lead” actor in new My Fair Princess/Huan Zhu Ge Ge

Li Sidanni (Hui, Sichuan Chengdu)
eeMedia singer-dancer-actor
made out with Fan Bingbing in Buddha Mountain

Fu Mengni (Miao, Yunnan Guizhou)
eeMedia singer
Taobao model
8th place of Super Girls 2011

MIC Xiaoxin (Yi, Yunnan Kunming)
Taihe Rye Recording
singer-dancer-composer

Jin Yinling (Korean, Gilin Yanji)
eeMedia singer
13th place of Super Girls 2011

Wu’ershan (Mongolian, Inner Mongolia )
director of “The Butcher, the Chef and the Swordsman” , “Painted Skin II”

Wudamu/Uudam (Mongolian, Inner Mongolia’s Hulunbei’er Plains)
Member of the Multicolor Hulunbei’er Choir
Popular contestant on China’s Got Talented
Adopted by singers Burenbaya’er and Wurina, who have done the most amazing job promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of the region.

Nuo’erman (half-Mongolian half-Evenki, Inner Mongolia Hulunbei’er)
Singer – composer – current student at Berklee
Daughter of  singers Burenbaya’er(Mongolian) and Wuri’na (Evenki)

Watch the gorgeous Evenki MV The Sound of History with the two’s parents and cousin  here .  For those of us in America, it would’ve been hard to not see the resemblance to the Native Americans in the video.  I wonder if the clothes and tepee developed separately or were they of the same origins?

Tong Liya (Xibo, Xinjiang Qapqal)
Central Drama Academy graduate
Supporting Actress in Palace/Gong
Lead actress in Beijing Love Story, Tangshan Earthquake, etc.

Yang Xiucuo (Tibetan, Qinghai Tongde)
2010 Blossoming Flowers 4th place
Lead actress in upcoming drama Where are the heroes 借问英雄何处

Nizu (Va, Yunnan A’va’shan)
China’s Top 10 model of 2005
Current CEO of a Chongqing Modeling Agency

He Qiuxiang (Naxi, Yunnan Shangri-la )
2011 Blossoming Flowers 3rd place
recently signed with Seed music

Linda and Wanda Li (half Naxi, half German; Yunnan Xishuangbanna)
Adopted sisters of 2011 Super Girl Wang Yijie
In the link attached, they’re singing an Akha folk song.

53-year-old Yang Liping 杨丽萍 is as gorgeous as ever in another Peacock dance. Performed with the young dancer Wang Di, the dance uses traditional methods but is combined with a new costume, the beautiful backdrop and music by composer SanBao.
Watch the dance below in HD.  Also watch her performance in HD with niece Caiqi on Hunan TV last week here.

Saving Chinese "Nian" on the 2012 Spring Festival Gala

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!

Watch the rest of the gala here.