LayarHijau – Chinese actor Zhang Linghe has captured global attention as the costume drama Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) he stars in alongside Tian Xiwei became an instant hit upon its premiere, earning him more than 3 million new followers across social media and a rapidly growing fanbase. The drama’s success has also led to collaborations with top brands Bulgari, Lee, and Lancôme, as well as a standout cover appearance on ELLE magazine that saw extraordinary sales figures.
The ELLE issue featuring Zhang Linghe reportedly sold 230,000 copies within the first 15 minutes of release, generating approximately 10 million yuan (around $1.43 million USD), and ultimately moved 350,000 copies in a single day for total sales of about 16 million yuan (approximately $2.3 million USD)—a remarkable achievement in the fashion publishing world.
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China’s fashion industry is traditionally led by its “Big Five” women’s magazines (VOGUE, ELLE, Harper’s BAZAAR, Marie Claire, and COSMOPOLITAN), and it’s uncommon for male actors to grace their covers. However, Zhang Linghe’s surge in popularity from Pursuit of Jade coupled with endorsements from Bulgari, Lee, and Lancôme has helped him break into this elite circle, shedding the label of a rising actor waiting for his breakout moment.
This marks Zhang Linghe’s first collaboration with ELLE. For the cover shoot, Bulgari even presented rare antique jewelry pieces, while his makeup featured Lancôme products and denim pieces from Lee. With the issue themed around “the folding of time,” many praised his aristocratic, cool aesthetic—an image that resonated strongly with readers and drew positive reactions online.
Off‑camera, Zhang Linghe has shared a growing passion for photography. He revealed that outside of his acting commitments, he dedicates his free time to exploring the craft—from studying different cameras’ performance and composition techniques to experimenting with post‑production color grading. He said this hobby has opened a creative world he never anticipated discovering.
Actually, Zhang Linghe’s interest in photography was evident even earlier in live streams, where he mentioned buying multiple units of the same camera model. During his latest drama shoot for The Road to Glory (international title for 归鸾), he was often seen capturing behind‑the‑scene moments with his camera during breaks. Fans noted that after delving into photography, his confidence and awareness of angles seem to have improved, with his expressions, poses, and presence in the ELLE photoshoot reflecting a more seasoned and self‑aware performer—earning widespread praise from netizens.
