Dai Xiangyu: from China to Singapore and back to China

Dai Xiangyu, formerly Dai Yangtian, is an actor who has had his ups and downs in the C-entertainment industry. Let's take a look at his career, from his breakthrough in Singapore to the challenges he faced and his eventual return to China, where he found new success.

Image: Netflix

Born on December 27, 1984, in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China, Dai Xiangyu is a Chinese national who first started out his beginnings in the entertainment industry as a model in Japan and Shanghai.

Image: Hunan TV

Despite being a Chinese national, Dai Xiangyu was scouted by Singaporean media company Mediacorp when he was modelling in Shanghai and was invited to join full-time, according to 8days.

Image: Tencent

It did not take long for Dai Xiangyu to make it big in Singapore when he became a full-time actor for Mediacorp in 2007, according to the same report. It was also a year later that he landed his breakthrough role.

Image: Sichuan Satellite TV

Dai Xiangyu landed a major role in Mediacorp's 'The Little Nyonya' in 2008, as Yamamoto Yousuke, a major supporting character. His work in the series became his magnum opus, and Dai Xiangyu is still best known for it today, in 2023!

Image: Mediacorp

Did you know?: According to a Channel News Asia interview, Dai Xiangyu landed the role by chance because it was originally supposed to go to Elvin Ng, who was injured before filming and had to pass the role over to Dai Xiangyu.

Image: Tencent

His work in ‘The Little Nyonya’ made Dai Xiangyu a household name in Singapore. Some of his post-breakthrough work in Singapore includes ‘Together’, ‘No Limits’, and ‘Breakout’.

Image: Sichuan Satellite TV

Acting in Singapore was not enough for Dai Xiangyu, as the actor then proceeded to expand his acting repertoire across China and returned to Shanghai.

Image: Hunan TV

The Smart Local reports that while in China in 2011, Dai Xiangyu had his hand in producing, co-producing and acting in the drama ‘Precious’.

Image: Netflix

It was also during that year that Dai Xiangyu decided to make a permanent move to return to China. However, The Straits Times reported that he failed to land a gig in China during the years 2011 to 2013.

Image: Viki

According to The Straits Times, it was then that Dai Yangtian decided on his name change to what we know him as today, Dai Xiangyu. The name change was believed by the actor to bring him better luck in his career, which it eventually did!

Image: iQiyi

Since his name change, Dai Xiangyu has been involved in the following projects across Singapore and China: ‘The Quarters’, ‘Pearl Earrings’, and ‘Demon Girl’.

Image: iQiyi

Dai Xiangyu had also starred in an iQiyi remake of ‘The Little Nyonya’ back in 2020, reprising his same role from back in 2008!

Image: iQiyi

Other than Dai Xiangyu, Singaporean actors from the original and new stars such as Xiang Yun and Jeffrey Xu also starred in this cross-border production.

Image: iQiyi

Dai Xiangyu’s move to China also brought him luck in love! The actor met his wife, fellow actress Chen Zihan. According to The New Paper, the two had met on-set during the filming of ‘Pearl Earrings’. The two married in 2016 after a year of dating.

Image: Weibo

In 2021, it was revealed that Dai Xiangyu had failed to renew his Permanent Residency status in Singapore, and he lost his status as a Singapore Permanent Resident. According to Mothership, this was due to pandemic restrictions that were out of the actor's control.

Image: Viki

Despite the setbacks, Dai Xiangyu's career as an actor in China is experiencing a second resurgence, despite entering the Mainland Chinese market at a rather mature age.

Image: iQiyi

Aside from being a top actor in Singapore, The Straits Times reports that Dai Xiangyu appears to be gaining traction in China as well, with 2.5 million followers and counting on Weibo!

Image: iQiyi

Dai Xiangyu’s latest work sees him playing a gangster in 1930s Singapore in the Chinese drama ‘Sisterhood’, according to The Straits Times.

Image: iQiyi

8days also reports that Dai Xiangyu has also had a rather interesting appearance in another latest drama, ‘A Date with the Future’, where his face was digitally imposed onto scandal-ridden actor Wang Dong.

Image: Tencent

Dai Xiangyu appears to be a story of perseverance in pursuit of one's dreams, regardless of age, despite his mature entry into China's competitive showbiz market! There is undoubtedly more in store for this seasoned actor who has found a second wind in his career.

Image: iQiyi