LayarHijau – Entertainment data platform Zhiku Xingtu has released its list of the ten Chinese stars with the highest follower growth throughout 2025. The ranking is based on total new followers gained across major social media platforms, including Weibo and Douyin, once again highlighting the powerful influence of television dramas on celebrity popularity.
Taking the top spot is Zhao Lusi, who added an impressive 18.13 million new followers. Her popularity surged following the broadcast of Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼), a drama that not only performed strongly in terms of viewership but also sparked widespread fashion trends, with many of her on-screen outfits quickly becoming must-buy items. The success of the drama further cemented Zhao Lusi’s position as one of the most commercially powerful actresses of the younger generation.
Second place goes to Bai Lu, who gained 12.48 million new followers. Bai Lu had a particularly productive year, releasing three dramas in 2025: Moonlight Mystique (白月梵星), Feud (临江仙), and Northward (北上). All three projects delivered solid results in both ratings and audience response, driving her popularity steadily upward.
Coming in third is Zhang Linghe, with an increase of 11.4 million followers. His status as a leading drama heartthrob was reinforced by The Best Thing (爱你), where he portrayed a warm and devoted male lead, as well as Our Generation (樱桃琥珀), which helped him attract an even broader fan base.
Bai Lu and Zhang Linghe also drew renewed attention as they were previously paired in the 2023 drama Story of Kunning Palace (宁安如梦) and were once rumored to be dating. Although the rumors were never officially confirmed, the former on-screen couple now occupies second and third place respectively on the 2025 popularity ranking.
Zhao Lusi’s rise to the top is also marked by a dramatic personal journey. She previously faced a difficult period when filming for Almost Lovers (恋人) alongside Peng Guanying was abruptly halted due to health issues. Zhao Lusi later revealed that she had been struggling with depression and experienced unfair treatment from her former agency, Galaxy Cool Entertainment. After a period away from the spotlight, she made a strong comeback with Love’s Ambition. Support from Huajing Entertainment, which helped resolve her previous contract issues, became a major turning point in her career, with her story often cited as a rare example of a comeback from adversity in the entertainment industry.
Fourth place is held by Ao Ruipeng, who gained 10.85 million new followers. He remained highly active throughout the year with several popular dramas, including Moonlight Mystique, Coroner’s Diary (朝雪录), and The Seven Relics of Ill Omen (七根心简). Among them, Coroner’s Diary, co-starring Li Landi, stood out for its particularly strong ratings performance.
Fifth and sixth places are dominated by the two male leads of the hit drama Revenged Love (逆爱). Zi Yu ranks fifth with 10.4 million new followers, followed closely by Tian Xuning in sixth place with an additional 9.08 million followers. Seventh place goes to Ju Jingyi, who saw her follower count increase by 8.91 million.
In eighth place is Lu Yuxiao, whose popularity soared thanks to her roles in Perfect Match (五福临门), Serendipity (榜上佳婿), and Love in the Clouds (入青云), resulting in a total increase of 8.03 million followers. Ninth place is claimed by Song Yuqi, who remained highly visible through variety show appearances and gained 7.14 million followers. Rounding out the top ten is Wang Anyu, star of The Last Immortal (神隐), with an increase of 6.62 million followers.
The list once again underscores the decisive role of television dramas and social media exposure in shaping celebrity popularity in China, demonstrating how a single successful project can significantly elevate an actor or actress’s standing within the industry.
