The Central Academy of Drama (), abbreviated Zhong Xi (), is a

drama school A drama school, stage school or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or university; or a free-standing institution (such as the Drama section at the Juilliard School); which specializes in the pr ...

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

, China. It is a Chinese state

Double First Class University Plan The World First Class University and First Class Academic Discipline Construction (), together known as Double First Class (), is a tertiary education development initiative designed by the People's Republic of China central government in 2015 ...

university identified by the Ministry of Education of China. The school is the first theatre higher educational institution of the People's Republic of China. It is ranked as the best top-level drama, film, and television arts institution in China and has been selected into the country's Double First Class University Plan. The Central Academy of Drama is a central subordinate university and is also an art college directly under the Ministry of Education. It is the highest institution of education in dramatic art among the world's leading art institutions in Chinese drama, visual arts teaching and research center. The Central Academy of Drama is also the headquarters of the World Theatre Education Alliance (WTEA), China Alliance of Theatre Higher Educational Institutes and Asia Theatre Education Centre (ATEC). The Central Academy of Drama has engaged in the practice of drama and the visual arts for more than 50 years and is a bastion of experimental theater drama in China. The school also holds the UNESCO Chair on Theatre Education.

Location

The academy is located at 39 E Mianhua Hutong, Dongcheng Qu, Beijing Shi, 100009.

History

The academy was established in April 1950 with Ouyang Yuqian as its first president and was named by

Mao Zedong Mao Zedong pronounced ; also romanised traditionally as Mao Tse-tung. (26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976), also known as Chairman Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary who was the founder of the People's Republic of China (PRC) ...

. It inherited the drama department of Lu Xun Art Academy in

Yan'an Yan'an (; ), alternatively spelled as Yenan is a prefecture-level city in the Shaanbei region of Shaanxi province, China, bordering Shanxi to the east and Gansu to the west. It administers several counties, including Zhidan (formerly Bao'an) ...

, the art school of North China University and the National Drama College in Nanjing. Many famous actors, actresses and directors have graduated from the Academy including

Zhang Ziyi Zhang Ziyi (; ; born 9 February 1979) is a Chinese actress and model. She is regarded as one of the Four Dan Actresses of China. Her first major role was in '' The Road Home'' (1999). She later gained international recognition for her role in ...

Jiang Wen Jiang Wen (born 5 January 1963) is a Chinese actor, screenwriter, and director. As a director, he is sometimes grouped with the "Sixth Generation" that emerged in the 1990s. Jiang is also well known internationally as an actor, having starred wit ...

, Gong Li and

Li Landi Li Landi (; born 2 September 1999), also known as Landy Li, is a Chinese actress, singer and model of Hui ethnicity. She also starred in 2019 Chinese film '' Adoring''. She is best known for her roles in the dramas '' My Huckleberry Friends '' ...

Rankings and reputation

The Central Academy of Drama is regarded as the most prestigious drama school in China and ranked 2nd in Asia and 32th in the world by the 2021

QS World University Rankings ''QS World University Rankings'' is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The QS system comprises three parts: the global overall ranking, the subject rankings (which name the world's top universities for the ...

in Performing Arts.

Notable alumni

Note that class year indicates the entrance year, not graduating year. ; Acting Department *Class of 1950:

Jin Yaqin Jin Yaqin (; 1925 – 23 June 2016), also known by her stage name Bai Wei (), was a Chinese actress. Jin won the 25th Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress, 18th Tokyo International Film Festival - Best Actress and 7th Chinese Film Media Award ...

*Class of 1954:

Zheng Zhenyao Zheng Zhenyao () is a Chinese film and television actress. Zheng started her career in the theater stage, but rose to fame through her role as a middle-aged lady in ''Sparkling Red Star'' (1974). For her performance in '' My Memories of Old Beiji ...

*Class of 1959:

Yan Shunkai Yan Shunkai (; 6 June 1937 – 16 October 2017) was a Chinese comedian, actor and film director. Yan rose to fame after portraying Ah Q in ''The True Story of Ah Q'', which was based on an episodic novella by Lu Xun, one of the pioneers of mode ...

*Class of 1960:

Wen Xingyu Wen Xingyu ( Chinese: 文兴宇; 1941–2007) was a popular comedian and director in mainland China. Wen is famous for his relaxing style and his talent as a senior comedian. He died on 30 July 2007 in Beijing due to lung cancer at the age of 65. ...

*Class of 1974:

Chen Baoguo Chen Baoguo (; born 9 March 1956) is a Chinese actor. He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, Erjia in 1977 and has since acted in many films and television series, including ''The Emperor in Han Dynasty'', ''Da Zhai Men'' and ''Rob-B-Hoo ...

Guo Lianwen Guo Lianwen () is a Chinese actor. He is now the President of Film School of Beijing Central Minzu University and China Children's Art Theatre, he is now the Vice-President of China Artist Association. He has won the Chian Golden Eagle Award ...

*Class of 1979: Chen Daoming *Class of 1980:

Lü Liping Lǚ Lìpíng (; born 3 April 1960) is a Chinese actress. Her career accolades include one Golden Rooster Award, Flying Apsaras Award, Golden Horse Award and Golden Phoenix Award, two Hundred Flowers Awards, Golden Eagle Awards and Chinese Film ...

Yue Hong Yue Hong (born 13 August 1962) is a Chinese actress. She is noted for her roles as Gui Lan and Da Lian in the films ''Wild Mountains'' and ''A Tale of Two Donkeys'' respectively. Early life Yue was born and raised in Chengdu, Sichuan. After Res ...

*Class of 1982:

Ni Dahong Ni Dahong (; born 1960) is a Chinese actor best known for his roles as Sima Yi in the historical television series ''Three Kingdoms'', based on the classical novel ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' by Luo Guanzhong; and Su Daqiang in family dram ...

*Class of 1984:

Zhang Hanyu Zhang Hanyu (born 19 December 1964) is a Chinese actor. Zhang became the first Chinese actor to win the "Grand Slam", winning Best Actor trophies from the Golden Horse Awards, Golden Rooster Awards, Hundred Flowers Awards and Huabiao Awards. L ...

Wu Xiubo Wu Xiubo ( , born 5 September 1968), is a Chinese actor, musician and producer. He is most widely known as Xinjie Liu, the protagonist in the television series ''Before the Dawn'', for which he received several awards. Wu ranked 43rd on ''Forbes ...

*Class of 1985: Gong Li,

Jia Hongsheng Jia Hongsheng (; 19 March 1967 – 5 July 2010) was a Chinese actor who became known in the late 1980s and early 1990s for roles in movies like ''The Case of the Silver Snake'' (1988), ''Good Morning, Beijing'' (1991), ''A Woman from North Shaan ...

Wei Zi Wei Zi (; born January 1956) is a Chinese film and television actor. Early life Born and raised in Ningxia, he was originally named Wang Wei (). Education He graduated from the Ningxia College of Art in 1978 and was assigned to the Ningxia Repe ...

, Chen Wei *Class of 1986:

Chen Zhihui Chen Zhihui is a Chinese actor best known for playing supporting roles in various films and television series since the 1980s. Some of his more notable roles in film include: Master Chin in '' Jet Li's Fearless'' (2006); Zhang Fei in '' Three Ki ...

*Class of 1987:

Hu Jun Hu Jun (born March 18, 1968) is a Chinese actor best known for playing dramatic roles in various films and television series. He has acted in a number of Hong Kong films. Biography Hu Jun was born on March 18, 1968, to Wang Yiman (), a drama ac ...

Xu Fan Xu Fan (, born 16 August 1967) is a Chinese actress and Asian Film Awards winner. She married film director Feng Xiaogang Feng Xiaogang (; born 18 March 1958 in Beijing) is a Chinese film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and politician ...

*Class of 1988: Guo Tao,

*Class of 1989: Tao Hong *Class of 1990: Li Yapeng,

Chen Jianbin Chen Jianbin (born June 27, 1970) is a Chinese actor active in television and film. He is most notable for the portrayal of Cao Cao in the 2010 television series '' Three Kingdoms''; as well as his performance in ''Decade of Marriage'', '' Qiao ...

*Class of 1991: Huang Zhizhong *Class of 1993: Zhu Yuanyuan, Wang Qianyuan *Class of 1994: Tao Hong,

Gong Beibi Beibi Gong () (born February 21, 1978 in Fujian, China) is a Chinese film and television actress. Beginning her acting career as a teenager, she later graduated from the prestigious Central Academy of Drama where she first gained recognition amo ...

Duan Yihong Duan Yihong (; born May 16, 1973) is a Chinese actor best known for his role as Yuan Lang in '' Soldiers Sortie'' (2006), Long Wenzhang in '' My Chief and My Regiment'' (2009), and Hei Wa in '' White Deer Plain'' (2011). Biography Duan Yihon ...

*Class of 1995:

Xia Yu Xia Yu may refer to: *Yu the Great, also known as Xia Yu, legendary founder of the Xia dynasty * Xia Yu (actor) (born 1978), Chinese actor *Ha Yu (actor) Wong Sing (born 14 June 1943), better known by his stage name Ha Yu, is a Hong Kong actor ...

*Class of 1996:

, Liu Ye,

Qin Hailu Qin Hailu (, born 11 August 1978) is a Chinese actress, screenwriter and singer. She has won Best Actress at the Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award and Golden Bauhinia Awards. Early life and education ...

Mei Ting Mei Ting (Chinese: 梅婷, born 30 April 1975) is a Chinese actress. She received the Best Actress awards at the 22nd Cairo International Film Festival and 5th Huabiao Awards for her performance in "A Time to Remember". Early life In the 1980s, ...

, Yuan Quan, Qin Hao *Class of 1997: Chen Hao,

Calvin Li Calvin Li or Li Zonghan (; born 7 November 1976) is a Chinese actor of Manchu ethnicity. Li is noted for his roles as Wu Yong and Yang Zhenjiang in the television series and film ''All Men Are Brothers'' and ''Hushed Roar'' respectively. Life ...

*Class of 1998:

Deng Chao Deng Chao (, born 8 February 1979) is a Chinese actor, comedian, director and singer. His recent films, '' The Breakup Guru'' (2014), '' The Mermaid'' (2016) and ''Duckweed'' (2017) are among the highest-grossing Chinese films of all time in ...

Zhu Yuchen Zhu Yuchen (; born February 27, 1979) is a Chinese film actor. He dated Tang Wei since 1995 and split shortly before both graduated from the Central Academy of Drama The Central Academy of Drama (), abbreviated Zhong Xi (), is a drama school ...

*Class of 1999:

Chen Sicheng Chen Sicheng (born February 22, 1978 in Shenyang) is a Chinese actor, director and screenwriter. He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, and is known for his leading roles in the films ''A Young Prisoner's Revenge'' and ''Spring Fever''; ...

, Zhang Luyi *Class of 2000: Zhou Yun, Liu Yun,

Gao Lu Gao Lu (; born 8 October 1982) is a Chinese actress best known for her roles in ''The Lady Iron Chef'', ''Mature Male Develop a Mind'', ''My Economical Man'', and '' All Is Well''. Early life and education Gao was born in Beijing on October 8, ...

*Class of 2001:

Zhang Xinyi Zhang Xinyi (, born 29 May 1981) is a Chinese actress and director. She ranked 95th on ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, 99th in 2014, and 80th in 2015. Biography Zhang was born in 1981 in Ziyang, Sichuan province. After graduating ...

*Class of 2002:

Wen Zhang Wen Zhang (, born 26 June 1984) is a Chinese actor. He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2006. Wen ranked 58th on ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, and 45th in 2014. Career Rising popularity Wen first became known for h ...

Tiffany Tang Tang Yan (, born 6 December 1983), also known as Tiffany Tang, is a Chinese actress and singer. She graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2006. In 2007, she was nominated for the Best Actress award at the Shanghai Television Festival for h ...

, Tong Yao,

Bai Baihe Bai Baihe (, born 1 March 1984) is a Chinese actress. She was among the highest paid film actresses in China. She is best known for her roles in such films as '' Love is Not Blind'', '' Personal Tailor'', ''Monster Hunt'' and '' Go Away Mr. Tu ...

, Cao Xiwen,

Bai Jing Bai Jing () (4 June 1983 – 28 February 2012) was a Chinese actress. She was best known for her role in the 2010 film '' Kung Fu Wing Chun'' in which she played the Chinese folk heroine Yim Wing-chun. Background Bai Jing graduated from Centr ...

, Yang Shuo, Zhang Mo *Class of 2003: Wang Kai,

Hans Zhang Hans Zhang Han (, born 6 October 1983) is a Chinese actor, singer and host. He graduated from Central Academy of Drama in 2007. Zhang is best known for his roles in ''Meteor Shower'' (2009) and ''Meteor Shower II'' (2010), ''Fall in Love'' (201 ...

*Class of 2004:

Tong Liya Tong Liya ( zh, 佟丽娅, born 8 August 1983) is a Chinese actress of Xibe ethnicity. Background Tong was born in Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang province. Her father Tong Jisheng () was of Xibe ethni ...

, Wang Zhi, Hu Sang, Zheng Qingwen *Class of 2005:

Chen Xiao Chen Xiao (, born 5 July 1987) is a Chinese actor and model. He is best known for his roles in ''Swordsman'' (2013), '' Legend of Lu Zhen'' (2013), ''The Romance of the Condor Heroes'' (2014), ''Who Sleeps My Bro'' (2015), '' Nothing Gold Can S ...

, Mao Xiaotong, Lin Xiawei, Lin Peng,

Ying Er Ying Er (, born 12 December 1988) is a Chinese actress. Her real name is Liu Ying (). She is best known for her roles in the television series '' Sealed with a Kiss'', ''Xiao Ju's Spring Day'' and '' Decoded''. Filmography Film Television ...

, Zhang Jianing *Class of 2006: Liu Yuxin, Song Yi *Class of 2007:

Wei Daxun Wei Daxun (; born 12 April 1989), born in Jilin Province, China, is a Chinese actor, singer, and host. Wei ranked 85th on ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 list in 2019, and 56th in 2020. He graduated from the 07-level undergraduate class of act ...

, Cheng Yi *Class of 2008: Ma Ke, Lan Yingying,

Gao Weiguang Gao Wei Guang (, born 16 January 1983) is a Chinese actor and supermodel. He is known for his lead roles in hit dramas Candle in the Tomb: The Wrath of Time, ''Candle In The Tomb: The Wrath Of Time'', Eternal Love of Dream, ''Eternal Love Of Dre ...

*Class of 2009: Bai Yu *Class of 2010: Yang Yang,

Qiao Xin Qiao Xin (, born 23 November 1993), also known as Bridgette Qiao, is a Chinese actress who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama. Qiao is recognized for her role as Guan Ju'er in ''Ode to Joy'' (2016) and ''Ode to Joy 2'' (2017). Career In ...

Liu Xueyi Liu Xueyi (; born 6 July 1990) is a Chinese actor. He graduated from Central Academy of Drama in 2014. Early life and education Liu Xueyi was born on 6 July, 1990 in Qingdao, Shandong, China. He left home to study when he was a child. After stu ...

Qin Junjie Qin Junjie (, born 1 September 1991) is a Chinese actor. He made his debut in the 2006 film ''Curse of the Golden Flower''. He is best known for his starring roles in the TV series ''Noble Aspirations'' (2016), ''Legend of Dragon Pearl'' (2017), ...

, Zhao Yingzi *Class of 2012:

Yang Xuwen Yang Xuwen (, born 2 April 1994) is a Chinese actor. He is best known in for his role as Guo Jing in ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' (2017). Biography Early life Yang was born and raised in Nanjing, Jiangsu, on April 2, 1994. He attended Na ...

, Liang Jie *Class of 2013: Zhang Ming'en *Class of 2014: Dong Zijian,

Chen Xingxu Chen Xingxu (, born 31 March 1996) is a Chinese actor. He is known for his roles as Yang Kang in ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' (2017) and Gu Xiaowu / Li Chengyin in ''Goodbye My Princess'' (2019). Early life and education Chen Xingxu w ...

*Class of 2015:

Liu Haoran Liu Haoran (; born 10 October 1997), also known as Turbo Liu, is a Chinese actor. Liu ranked 18th on ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 list in 2020, 19th in 2019, and 89th in 2017. In 2021, Liu became the youngest actor to gross over 15 billion R ...

, Dong Sicheng, Liang Sen *Class of 2016:

Zhang Xueying Zhang Xueying (; born 18 June 1997), also known as Sophie Zhang, is a Chinese actress. Zhang is regarded as one of the " New Four Dan actresses of the post-95s Generation" (), along with Zhang Zifeng, Vicky Chen and Guan Xiaotong. Career In 20 ...

Zhao Jiamin Zhao Jiamin (; born July 22, 1998 in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China) is a Chinese idol singer. She is a former member of the female idol group SNH48, and came in first during SNH48's second General Election. Career On 14 October 2012, Zhao Jiami ...

*Class of 2018: Jackson Yee, Hu Xianxu ,

, Luo Yizhou *Class of 2019: Jiang Yiyi, Li Faner *Class of 2020: Zhao Jinmai *Class of 2021: Wen Qi, Deng Zeming *Class of 2022: Song Yaxuan Directing Department: Bao Guo'an (Class of 1977), Li Baotian (Class of 1979), Zhang Yang (Class of 1988), Zhang Jingchu (Class of 1997),

Lin Yongjian Lin Yongjian (, born 14 February 1970) is a Chinese actor. Lin, Yongjian graduated from PRC Academy of Drama in 1990, has been a successful stage actor at Guangzhou Soldiers' Drama Troupe after graduation. He has been starring in more than 50 ...

(Class of 1999), Tang Wei (Class of 2000), Papi Jiang (Class of 2005) Department of Musical Theatre:

Sun Honglei Sun Honglei (; born 16 August 1970) is a Chinese actor. Early life Sun was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang, on 16 August 1970. Sun developed an interest in acting and performances at a young age. He often skipped school to learn breakdancing on the ...

(Class of 1995),

Jin Dong Jin Dong (, born 22 December 1976) is a Chinese actor. He is known for his television roles in ''Legend of Entrepreneurship'' (2012), '' The Disguiser'' (2015), '' Candle in the Tomb'' (2016), ''Surgeons'' (2017) and '' The First Half of My Life ...

(Class of 1999),

Zhang Xincheng Zhang Xincheng (, born 24 August 1995), also known by his English name Steven Zhang, is a Chinese actor. His first major role was that of Lin Yang in the high school drama, My Huckleberry Friends (2017). Zhang is best known for his roles as Li Yu ...

(Class of 2014) Department of Stage Design: Zhang Lei (Class of 1995) Department of Dramatic Literature:

Zhang Yibai Zhang Xiaoling, better known by his stage name Zhang Yibai () (born 14 April 1963, in Chongqing, China) is a Chinese film director, screenwriter and producer. Directorial career Zhang began his career in television and music videos before dir ...

(Class of 1986),

Diao Yinan Diao Yinan (; born 1969 in Xi'an, Shaanxi) is a Chinese director, screenwriter and occasional actor. He won the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival for the widely acclaimed Chinese neo-noir film ''Black Coal, ...

(Class of 1987), Cai Shangjun (Class of 1988), Yilin Zhong (Class of 1993)

References

External links

*
Central Academy of Drama official site
(or https://web.archive.org/web/20070125013704/http://218.249.21.170/ when connection problems)
http://www.chntheatre.edu.cn/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Academy of Drama Universities and colleges in Beijing Film schools in China Drama schools in China Educational institutions established in 1950 1950 establishments in China Mass media in Beijing Dongcheng District, Beijing Schools in Dongcheng District, Beijing Schools of Chinese opera