Wang Yibo

SUMMARY

Wang Yibo is a Chinese actor, singer, dancer, fashion model and professional motorcycle racer and racing driver. He debuted as a member of South Korean-Chinese boyband Uniq in 2014. As an actor, he is widely acclaimed for his roles in television series “Love Actually” (2017), “Gank Your Heart” (2019), “The Untamed” (2019), “Legend of Fei'” (2020), “Luoyang” (2021), “Being a Hero” (2022) and “War of Faith” (2024). His performances have earned him multiple acting nominations at film awards, including Golden Rooster Awards, Huabiao Awards and Asian Film Awards. Wang has made regular appearances in the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list, ranking 2nd in 2021.

BIOGRAPHY

Wang Yibo was born on August 5, 1997, in Luoyang, Henan, China. He displayed an early interest in music and dancing; during secondary school, he participated in IBD national dance competition and was placed in the top sixteen in the hip-hop category, which led him to join the Chinese talent agency YG Entertainment.

Music Career

In 2014, Wang Yibo became a member of Uniq with the song “Falling in Love”; he was the main dancer and rapper of the boy group formed by YG Entertainment and the Chinese company Yuehua Entertainment. During his time with Uniq, he showcased his skills as a singer and dancer, quickly gaining recognition for his stage presence. In April, he won the Best New Idol Award at the Top Chinese Music Awards. In August, Wang and Guan Xiaotong collaborated to sing “Once Again”, the theme song of the movie with same name. In November, Wang released the theme song “Just Dance” for the 4th Xuan Wu Dance Festival.

Acting Career

His transition from music to acting came in 2016 when he landed his first major role in the drama Meteor Garden (2018), though it was his role in The Untamed (2019) that helped him carve a niche in China. Wang’s portrayal of Lan Wangji earned him widespread acclaim and a dedicated fanbase worldwide. The series was a massive success, with millions of views, particularly from international audiences, where it was praised for its storytelling, acting and chemistry between the leads.

Wang’s career took a significant leap in 2023 with the release of his first leading role in the film ‘Hidden Blade’, a neo-noir spy thriller set during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai. The film, which was released in China on 22 January 2023 and in  the US, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong, was well-received, grossing over ¥930 million at the domestic box office. Wang’s performance as Mr. Ye earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 36th Golden Rooster Awards. Later that year, Wang also starred in ‘Born To Fly’, where he played Lei Yu, a test pilot in the Chinese Air Force. The action drama saw the debut of advanced Chinese fighter jets and grossed ¥850 million domestically.

In July 2023, Wang starred in One and Only, a sports comedy about a young breakdancer who dreams of joining a professional team to compete in the Asian Games. The film was a commercial success, making it into the top 20 highest-grossing Chinese films of the year. Wang’s performance earned him several nominations, including Best Actor at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards. He also starred in the short film All Tomorrow’s Parties, which was shortlisted for the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. Additionally, Wang expanded his career into music with the release of his first personal EP, Bystander, which topped QQ Music’s Annual EP chart within hours of its release.

Wang’s career continued to flourish in 2024 with various notable projects. In March, he starred in the TV series War of Faith, portraying Wei Ruolai, a patriotic young man in a republican-era spy finance drama. His film Formed Police Unit, in which he played Yang Zhen, a peacekeeping police officer, was released in May. Wang also participated in major events such as the Olympic Qualifier Series finale in Shanghai and served as a torchbearer for the Paris 2024 Olympics. His documentary work also gained recognition, with Defenders of the Hidden, a series about the Chinese pangolin, premiering on Youku in July, followed by Exploring the Unknown with Wang Yibo, which aired on Tencent Video in August. Wang capped off the year with multiple performances, including the release of his new single 我在 (I AM NOT HERE) and a collaborative stage at the 2024/2025 New Year’s Eve concert.

Wang Yibo also became a regular on Street Dance of China, showcasing his dance abilities. He is widely popular for his remarkable sense of style. His partnership with luxury fashion houses such as Chanel and Dior is particularly notable, with him being invited to exclusive events. In 2020, he was involved in the creation of a fashion label in collaboration with sportswear brand Anta, offering a mix of both streetstyle and high-performance wear. This partnership was well-received and underscored his growing influence as a trendsetter.

Racing Career

In 2019, Wang Yibo officially joined the Yamaha China Racing Team as a signed driver, marking the beginning of his professional motorcycle racing career. He made his debut at the Michelin GPGP Grand Prix Beijing Station in May 2019, though he faced a setback when his motorcycle broke down mid-race. Despite this, Wang showed his potential later that year at the ZIC Motorbike Race in Zhuhai International Circuit, where he earned second place in the mixed competition and took first place in the rookie division.

Wang’s racing achievements expanded into the car racing scene in 2024, when he participated in his first official race as an artist in the GT3 category of the GTSC series at Zhuhai International Circuit. Driving the No. 85 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II alongside professional driver Fang Junyu, Wang secured second place in the first round and won the championship in the second. He continued his success in 2025, securing the runner-up position at the China GT Championship pre-season warm-up at Ningbo International Circuit, before winning the GT3 AM category championship in the first race of the 2025 season at Shanghai International Circuit, despite an early race exit in the second race due to a collision.

PHILANTHROPY

 Wang Yibo is also a philanthropist, often involved in charity events and contributing to causes that support youth education and environmental awareness. He has used his reach to promote positive change and advocate for charitable causes, such as Firefighting Public Welfare of Luoyang City, SOS Children’s Villages’ campaign with Qingsongchou “No Child Alone: I want to have a family”, the Civil Traffic of Hunan Province, China Green Carbon Foundation, and Food and Agriculture Organization.

Wang has been active to show his support in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2020, Wang and more than 200 celebrities donated a total of 278 million yuan to Han Hong Charity Foundation in order to help the city of Wuhan. He made another donation to Wuhan together with the other hosts of Day Day Up; they collectively donated 1 million yuan worth of masks, protective clothing, and other necessary supplies. Wang also sang a number of original songs as a tribute to front liners of the COVID-19 pandemic and to convey love and hope during those challenging times.

REFERENCES

1. “Racer Wang Yibo – 51GT3 Racing Drivers Database”. 51gt3.com.
2. “福布斯中国发布2021中国名人榜：改变正当时”. Forbes China 
3. “乐华娱乐新人男团UNIQ正式公开 成员王一博曝光”. Netease 
4. 《创造101》王一博化身导师 点评一针见血. GX News 
5. “新人男团UNIQ正式公开 首发成员王一博预告片”. Sohu 
6. 《梦想合伙人》姚晨重回校园 王一博献银幕初吻. NetEase
7. “大话西游3王一博_头条”. www.toutiao.com.
8. 《人间至味是清欢》陈乔恩王一博”千层甜”. NetEase 
9. 《天天向上》本周五迎新版 主持新增大張偉王一博. People’s Daily 
10. 王一博惊喜亮相发布会 加盟《私立蜀山学园》. Tencent 
11. “「音樂風雲榜」在深圳舉行 魏晨尚雯婕獲最佳男女歌手”[“Music Chart” 
12. “关晓彤王一博《二次初恋》主题曲MV 七夕点映期待”. Youth.cn 
13. “王一搏《Just dance》潮酷首发” 
14. “偶像王一博加盟《青春最好时》青春联盟再迎新_手机网易网Idol Wang Yibo 
15. “《超凡天赋》开机 张逸杰王一博组新cp大玩超能力”. ifeng 
16. “王一博燃爆湖南春晚 酷炫舞技霸气十足”. Sohu 
17. 王一博受邀担任《创造101》舞蹈导师 火力全开. Netease
18. “《创造101》王一博圈粉无数 话题关注持续走高”. ifeng 
19. “《创造101》王一博袒露成长经历令人动容”. CDC Entertainment 
20. “王一博《昨日青空》挑战配音 温柔诉说《年少心事》代入感超强”. sina.cn.