Rao Zihao (饶子豪)

Rao Zihao is a rare post‑2000s multi‑hyphenate who has been steadily building a reputation as an actor, singer, director, and screenwriter since his early teens. Discovered by a talent scout while still in middle school and signed as a trainee under Lefeng Arts, he made his industry debut in 2014 at just 12 years old. Unlike many child stars who fade after a single breakout, Rao has deliberately expanded his skill set across multiple disciplines — from acting in hit web dramas to directing a short film that earned a Golden Rooster Award nomination. Now a student at the Beijing Film Academy‘s prestigious film production program, he represents a new generation of Chinese entertainment professionals who refuse to be confined to a single role.

Breakthrough Role Rao’s breakthrough came not through a single star‑making drama, but through a steady accumulation of memorable supporting roles in popular web series. He gained early recognition as the little Taoist priest in the 2020 fantasy hit Wu Xin: The Monster Killer Season 3 (《无心法师3》), which introduced him to a wider online audience. In 2021, he played Zhan Yiwen in the youth music drama Youth Melody (《少年如歌》), a role that showcased his singing and dancing background and earned him a dedicated fanbase. He followed this with the historical children‘s drama Legendary Fighter: Yang’s Heroine Children‘s Edition (《天真派杨门女将》) as Yang Silang, and in 2022, he appeared in the hit urban drama My Name is Zhao Jiadi (《我叫赵甲第》) as Zhao Yange. His first major film role came in 2024 with The Guest (《反客为主》), a film that was selected for the “Starting from Shanxi” section of the 8th Pingyao International Film Festival.

Public Perception Rao Zihao currently occupies a promising yet still‑forming space in the Chinese entertainment industry. Within the industry, he is respected as a serious young talent who actively pursues growth beyond acting: his 2022 directorial short film O received a nomination in the 35th Golden Rooster Awards‘ New Image Unit, a rare achievement for someone still in his early twenties. His academic path — enrolling in the Beijing Film Academy‘s film production program rather than a pure acting track — signals a deliberate ambition to understand the craft from behind the camera as well as in front of it. Among audiences, he is still best known as a former child actor who is steadily transitioning into more mature roles, and his recent film work has begun to attract attention from cinephiles and festival audiences. While he has not yet achieved mainstream stardom, his combination of youth, versatility, and formal training positions him as a talent with considerable long‑term potential.