Yi Yangqianxi: The Life Story Behind TFBoys' Youngest Star

Yi Yangqianxi is the youngest member of TFBoys, and he is the one who has changed the most since the group began. He joined as a small boy who was known for his dancing, and he has grown into one of the most respected young actors in China. His films have won awards, his performances have moved audiences, and critics who once saw him as just a boy-band singer now speak of him as a serious artist. That change did not happen by accident. It happened because he worked harder than anyone expected.

He is known to fans as Jackson Yee, and his story is about a child who was trained to dance, who learned to act, and who refused to be limited by the label of idol. He studied at the Central Academy of Drama, he chose difficult roles, and he proved, film by film, that he could carry a story on his own. His journey from a boy group to the cinema is one of the most remarkable in Chinese entertainment.

This is the story of a boy from Hunan who danced his way onto a stage, and then acted his way into the hearts of people who had never listened to a pop song.

A Boy From Huaihua Who Could Dance

Yi Yangqianxi was born on 28 November 2000 in Huaihua, a city in Hunan province in central China. He was the youngest child in his family, and from an early age, he showed a talent for movement. While other children were still learning to walk in a straight line, he was dancing. His family noticed, and they gave him the chance to learn properly. He began to study dance when he was very young, and he took to it with a seriousness that surprised his teachers.

Dance is a hard discipline for a child. It means long hours, sore muscles, and endless repetition of the same steps until they become perfect. Yi Yangqianxi did not complain. He practised, he listened, and he learned. He studied different kinds of dance, including street dance, which would later become his signature style. Street dance is not like ballet. It is fast, sharp, and full of attitude, and it suited his energy.

Before he joined TFBoys, he had already appeared on television as a young dancer, performing in shows and competitions. He was a child performer, and he knew what it meant to be watched by an audience. That early experience gave him a confidence that many children do not have, and it taught him how to handle the pressure of a live performance. He was not afraid of the stage. He had grown up on it.

He also learned to sing, and he began to think about a career in entertainment. Dance was his first love, but he understood that a performer needs more than one skill. He worked on his voice, he learned to act in small roles, and he prepared himself for a bigger stage. When the chance came to join a new boy group, he was ready, even though he was still a child.

Joining TFBoys as the Youngest Member

In 2013, Yi Yangqianxi joined TFBoys as the third and youngest member, alongside Wang Junkai and Yi Yangqianxi’s older group mates. He was twelve years old. The group had already begun to form, and his arrival completed the trio. He brought something the group needed: a dancer who could move with a sharpness and a style that the other two did not have. In the group’s performances, he was often the one who danced the hardest, and fans noticed.

The group’s debut in August 2013 changed his life, just as it changed the lives of the other two boys. He went from a child dancer in Hunan to a star whose face was known across China. The song “Manual of Youth”, released in 2014, made TFBoys famous, and Yi Yangqianxi was part of that success. He was the youngest, and fans loved to watch him grow, year by year, from a small boy into a young man.

Growing up in TFBoys was not easy for the youngest member. He had to keep up with older boys, he had to go to school, and he had to perform in front of large crowds. He was often tired, and he was often watched, but he kept working. His dancing became better and better, and his singing improved too. He was not the loudest member of the group, and he was not the one who spoke most in interviews, but he was the one who worked the hardest in the practice room.

As the years passed, it became clear that he had ambitions beyond the group. He loved to dance, but he also wanted to act, and he began to take that dream seriously. While other idols were content to stay in the group, Yi Yangqianxi was thinking about film school, about difficult roles, and about a career that would last long after his boy-band years. That ambition would soon change his life.

Learning to Act and Choosing the Central Academy of Drama

In 2018, Yi Yangqianxi was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, one of the most respected acting schools in China. It was a serious achievement, and it showed that his interest in acting was not a passing fancy. He had studied, he had prepared, and he had earned his place. For a pop idol, going to a serious acting school is a brave choice, because it means being judged as an actor, not as a star.

At the academy, he learned the craft of acting: how to understand a character, how to use his body and his voice, and how to tell a story with honesty. The training was hard, and it demanded a great deal from a young man who was already famous. He had to sit in classes with other students, be criticised by teachers, and start again as a beginner. That humility is rare in a star, and it is one of the reasons his acting has improved so much.

He also continued to work with TFBoys and to release solo music, but acting became the centre of his ambition. He chose roles carefully, and he looked for parts that would challenge him, not just parts that would make him look good. That choice set him apart from many other idols, who choose easy roles in romantic dramas. Yi Yangqianxi wanted to be an actor, and he was willing to do the hard work to become one.

His dance background helped his acting in ways that are easy to see. A dancer knows how to use his body, how to move with purpose, and how to show feeling without words. In his films, that physical skill is visible. He does not just say his lines. He carries his character in the way he walks, stands, and moves. That is a rare gift, and it comes from years of dance training that began when he was a small child.

Better Days and the Role That Changed Everything

In 2019, Yi Yangqianxi starred in the film Better Days, playing a young man named Xiao Bei who protects a schoolgirl from bullying. The film is a serious and moving story about school violence, about loneliness, and about two young people who find each other in a hard world. It was a difficult role for a young actor, because it demanded sadness, anger, and tenderness all at once, and it demanded that the audience believe in a character who has been hurt by life.

His performance was widely praised. Critics who had doubted him were surprised by his depth, and audiences were moved by the honesty of his acting. He did not act like an idol trying to be serious. He acted like a real young man who had lived through hard times, and the film became one of the most successful Chinese films of its year. It also earned him awards and nominations, including recognition as a best new performer, and it proved that he could carry a film on his own.

Better Days changed his career completely. After it, he was no longer just the youngest member of TFBoys. He was a film actor, and directors wanted to work with him. He chose his next roles with the same care, taking parts in films that dealt with real life: A Little Red Flower, about a young man living with illness; Nice View, about a young man trying to build a better life for his family; and Full River Red, a large historical film that showed his range. Each role was different, and each one showed a new side of his talent.

His acting style is quiet and physical. He does not shout or overact. He lets his face and his body tell the story, and he trusts the audience to understand. That style comes from his dance training, and from his own character, which is calm and thoughtful. It is a style that suits serious films, and it is the reason directors keep choosing him for important roles.

Street Dance, Solo Music, and a Performer in Full

While his acting career grew, Yi Yangqianxi did not give up dancing. He served as a captain on the show Street Dance of China, where he guided a team of dancers through a tough competition. It was a natural role for him, because he had been dancing since he was a child, and he understood the craft from the inside. Viewers loved watching him work with his team, and his calm, thoughtful leadership won him praise. He did not shout at his dancers. He taught them, encouraged them, and danced alongside them.

He also continued to release solo music, and his songs showed a young man who was growing up and thinking deeply about his life. His solo work is different from TFBoys’ bright pop. It is slower, more personal, and more reflective, and it often deals with loneliness, growing up, and the search for meaning. Fans who had loved him as a boy in a group now heard him as a young artist with his own ideas, and they followed him into this new phase.

His public image is one of quiet hard work. He does not seek attention for its own sake, and he does not fill his life with scandals. He speaks carefully in interviews, he treats his fans with respect, and he keeps his private life mostly private. That steadiness has made him a trusted figure, and it has helped him move from idol to actor without losing the audience that first loved him.

He has also become a fashion icon, appearing on magazine covers and at major events, but he does not let fashion distract him from his work. His focus is on acting, on dancing, and on music, and that focus is the reason his career has lasted. A star who chases every trend will soon be forgotten. A star who works hard at a craft will be remembered, and Yi Yangqianxi has chosen the second path.

What His Rise Means for Young Artists

Yi Yangqianxi’s story is still unfolding, but its meaning is already clear. He showed that a child star can become a serious artist, if he is willing to study, to work, and to choose difficult roles. He did not rely on his fame. He went to acting school, he took hard parts, and he earned his place in the film world through his performances. That is a lesson for every young idol in China: fame can open a door, but only work can keep you in the room.

His story is also about the power of dance. He began as a dancer, and dance gave him the physical skill, the discipline, and the confidence that later made him a good actor. A child who learns to dance learns to work hard, to listen to his body, and to express feeling without words. Those lessons stayed with him, and they are visible in every film he makes. Dance was not a side skill for him. It was the foundation of everything that followed.

For Chinese cinema, his rise is a sign of change. The film world once looked down on idols, and it did not trust them with serious roles. Yi Yangqianxi changed that view, film by film, by proving that an idol could also be an actor. That has opened doors for other young performers, and it has made Chinese film more open to new talent. His success is not just his own. It belongs to a whole generation of young artists who want to be taken seriously.

His future is bright, and it is open. He could become one of the great actors of his generation, a dancer who inspires young people, or a musician who writes his own songs. What is clear is that he has the discipline and the talent to build a long career, and that he has already survived the hardest part: growing up famous, and coming out the other side as a respected artist. That is a strong foundation for everything that comes next.

The Films After Better Days and the Actor He Is Becoming

After Better Days, Yi Yangqianxi could have taken the easy road. He could have chosen romantic dramas, safe roles, and films that made him look good without demanding much from him. He did not. He chose difficult films, about real life, and he kept challenging himself, role by role. That choice is the reason his acting career has lasted, and it is the reason critics now speak of him as a serious actor rather than a former idol.

In 2020, he starred in A Little Red Flower, a film about a young man living with a serious illness. It is a sad and gentle story, about a family, about love, and about the shortness of life. Yi Yangqianxi played the young man with a quiet honesty that moved audiences, and the film became a success. It was a very different role from Better Days, and it showed that he could play tenderness as well as anger. A young actor who can play both is a rare thing, and he proved he could do it.

He followed that with Nice View in 2022, a film about a young man trying to build a better life for his family in a fast-changing China. The story is about work, about money, and about the hope that a better life is possible, even when the odds are against you. Yi Yangqianxi played the role with a warmth and a determination that suited the story, and the film was praised for its honesty. It was not a glamorous film. It was a film about ordinary people, and he played an ordinary young man with great care.

In 2023, he appeared in Full River Red, a large historical film directed by Zhang Yimou, one of the most famous directors in China. The film is set in the Song dynasty, and it is a story of loyalty, betrayal, and mystery. Working with Zhang Yimou is a great honour for any young actor, and it showed how far Yi Yangqianxi had come. He was no longer just a former idol. He was an actor trusted by the most respected director in the country, and he held his own in a large and talented cast.

He also starred in The Volunteers: To the War, a large war film about Chinese soldiers, which showed yet another side of his range. War films demand a different kind of acting: physical, tough, and full of discipline. His dance training helped him, because he knew how to use his body, and his acting training helped him show the fear and the courage of a young soldier. Each new role has added a new layer to his work, and his filmography is now one of the most impressive of any young actor in China.

His method is quiet and physical. He does not shout or overact. He lets his face and his body tell the story, and he trusts the audience to understand. That style comes from his dance training, and from his own character, which is calm and thoughtful. It is a style that suits serious films, and it is the reason directors keep choosing him for important roles. He is not an actor who needs to be loud to be noticed. He is an actor who is noticed because he is true.

The Dance Captain and the Leader He Became

Yi Yangqianxi’s role as a captain on Street Dance of China showed a side of him that his films do not always show: a leader who teaches, encourages, and dances alongside his team. The show is a tough competition, where dancers battle each other and a captain must choose who stays and who goes. It is a high-pressure job, and it demands a person who understands dance deeply and who can make hard decisions without losing the trust of his team.

He handled that job with a calm that impressed viewers. He did not shout at his dancers, and he did not try to dominate them. He watched carefully, he gave practical advice, and he danced with them, showing them the moves rather than just telling them. That is good teaching, and it comes from a person who has danced since he was a child and who knows the craft from the inside. His team respected him, because they could see that he was not just a celebrity captain. He was a dancer, and he was one of them.

The show also showed his eye for talent. A good captain must spot a dancer who is not yet famous but who has something special, and Yi Yangqianxi did that again and again. He chose dancers who were brave, original, and hard-working, and he helped them grow. That eye for talent is a sign of a mature artist, because it means he is not just thinking about himself. He is thinking about the art, and about the next generation of dancers who will carry it forward.

His time on the show also brought his dancing to a wider audience. Many people knew him as an actor, and they had forgotten that he began as a dancer. On Street Dance of China, they saw him dance again, and they remembered how good he was. That reminder was important, because it showed that his dance training is still a living part of his career, not just a childhood memory. He is still a dancer, and he still loves to move.

The leadership he showed on the show is the same leadership he showed in TFBoys as the youngest member. He does not need to be the loudest person in the room. He leads by working hard, by treating people well, and by showing them what good work looks like. That is the kind of leadership that lasts, and it is one of the reasons his team trusted him, his group mates trust him, and his fans trust him too. He has also become a fashion figure, appearing on magazine covers and at major events, but he does not let fashion distract him from his work. His focus is on acting, on dancing, and on music, and that focus is the reason his career has lasted. A star who chases every trend will soon be forgotten, because trends change quickly and leave their followers behind. A star who works hard at a craft will be remembered, because the craft grows with him. Yi Yangqianxi has chosen the second path, and it is the path that will carry him furthest.

My Take:

I want to begin with a simple statement: of all the young stars in this group, Yi Yangqianxi impresses me the most, and it is not close. The reason is simple. He did the hard thing. He was a child star, he was famous, he was rich, and he could have stayed in that comfortable life forever. Instead, he went to acting school, he chose difficult roles, and he proved himself film by film. That takes a kind of courage that is easy to praise and hard to practise, and I think he deserves more credit than he gets for it.

What I admire most is his work ethic. He has been working since he was a small child, dancing for hours, practising until his muscles ached, and then doing it again the next day. That kind of discipline does not come from fame. It comes from character. A child who practises that hard is a child who understands that talent is not enough, and that only work makes talent real. I see that same discipline in his films. He does not coast on his looks or his fame. He works, and the work shows on the screen.

Better Days is a film I keep thinking about, because it is not an easy film. It is about bullying, about loneliness, and about two young people who are hurt by the world. Yi Yangqianxi played a young man who protects a girl, and he played him with a quiet sadness that felt real. I do not think a lazy actor could have done that. It needed someone who had lived with hard work, who understood what it means to be young and alone, and who could show that feeling without shouting. He did it, and the film became one of the best Chinese films of its year. That is a real achievement, and it is one that will last.

I also think about his dancing, and about how it shaped his acting. A dancer knows how to use his body, and Yi Yangqianxi uses his body like a language. In his films, you can read his character in the way he walks, the way he stands, and the way he holds his shoulders. That is a rare skill, and it comes from years of practice that began when he was a small boy in Hunan. I think young people who want to act should learn from that. Acting is not just about saying lines. It is about the whole body, and dance is one of the best ways to learn that.

His role as a captain on Street Dance of China also impressed me. He did not shout at his dancers or try to dominate them. He taught them, he encouraged them, and he danced with them. That is good leadership, and it is the same kind of leadership he showed in TFBoys as the youngest member. He does not need to be the loudest person in the room. He leads by working hard and by treating people well, and that is the kind of leadership that lasts.

If I have a worry, it is that the film world will ask too much of him too soon. He is still young, and he has already carried several large films. That is a heavy load, and I hope he takes time to rest, to study, and to choose his roles carefully. A young actor who takes every role will soon be tired, and his performances will suffer. I hope he keeps choosing quality over quantity, because his best work has come from careful choices, not from working non-stop.

I also think about his childhood, and about the price he paid for fame. He was twelve when he joined TFBoys, and he has been working ever since. He did not have a normal childhood, and he did not have the freedom to make mistakes in private. That is a high price, and I am glad he has come through it well. But I think the industry should ask itself whether twelve is too young to carry that kind of life. He survived it, and he thrived, but not every child would, and that is worth remembering.

What would I say to a young reader who admires him? I would say: learn a craft, and learn it properly. Yi Yangqianxi did not become a good actor by wishing for it. He went to school, he studied, and he took hard roles. If you want to be an actor, or a dancer, or a singer, do the same. Study, practise, and be willing to start as a beginner, even if you are already famous. That humility is the reason he succeeded, and it is the reason I believe he will keep succeeding.

In the end, I think of Yi Yangqianxi as proof that a child star can grow into a real artist. He did not stay a boy in a group. He became a dancer, an actor, and a young man with a serious career. Long after TFBoys’ early songs have become memories, I believe his films will still be watched, because they were made by a person who worked hard and meant what he did. That is a fine future, and I hope he finds it. I also want to think about his choice of roles, because it tells me a great deal about his character. After Better Days, he could have chosen easy, romantic roles that would have made him rich and kept him safe. He chose A Little Red Flower, about illness, and Nice View, about a young man struggling to support his family. Those are not easy films. They are films about real life, about pain, and about hope, and they demand a great deal from an actor. The fact that he chose them, again and again, tells me that he cares about his craft more than about his image. I respect that deeply, because it is the choice of an artist, not the choice of a star.

His work with Zhang Yimou on Full River Red also deserves thought. Zhang Yimou is one of the most respected directors in the world, and he does not choose his actors lightly. The fact that he chose Yi Yangqianxi, a former boy-band singer, shows how far the young actor has come. It also shows that the film world is changing, and that it is now willing to trust young performers who have done the work. I think that change is good, and I think Yi Yangqianxi helped to make it happen, by proving himself film by film.

I sometimes think about the pressure he must feel. He is still young, and he has already carried several large films. That is a heavy load, and I hope he takes time to rest, to study, and to choose his roles carefully. A young actor who takes every role will soon be tired, and his performances will suffer. I hope he keeps choosing quality over quantity, because his best work has come from careful choices, not from working non-stop. Rest is not laziness. It is part of the work, and I hope the people around him understand that.

His dancing also makes me think about the value of a physical skill. He began as a dancer, and dance gave him the discipline, the confidence, and the body control that later made him a good actor. A child who learns to dance learns to work hard, to listen to his body, and to express feeling without words. Those lessons stayed with him, and they are visible in every film he makes. I think young people who want to act should learn from that. Acting is not just about saying lines. It is about the whole body, and dance is one of the best ways to learn that.

If I could speak to a young reader who admires him, I would say this: pick a craft and study it properly, even if you are already known. Yi Yangqianxi went to acting school after becoming famous, and he sat in classes as a beginner, learning from teachers who criticised his work. That humility is rare, and it is the reason his acting keeps improving. A star who is willing to be a student will always have a future, because learning never ends, and the moment you stop learning is the moment you stop growing.

In the end, what I take from Yi Yangqianxi’s story is the value of hard work over fame. He did not become a good actor by wishing for it. He went to school, he studied, and he took the hardest roles he could find. That discipline is the reason his films work, and it is the reason directors trust him. A young actor who is willing to learn will always have a future, because learning never ends, and the moment you stop learning is the moment you stop growing. I also want to think about his leadership on Street Dance of China, because it shows a kind of strength that is easy to miss. He did not shout, he did not dominate, and he did not try to be the centre of attention. He taught, he encouraged, and he danced alongside his team. That is good leadership, and it is the same kind of leadership he showed in TFBoys as the youngest member. He leads by working hard and by treating people well, and that is the kind of leadership that lasts. I think young people who want to lead should learn from that. Leadership is not about being the loudest. It is about being the one who stays calm, works hard, and helps others grow.

I sometimes think about the price he paid for fame, and about what it means to work since childhood. He was twelve when he joined TFBoys, and he has been working ever since. He did not have a normal childhood, and he did not have the freedom to make mistakes in private. That is a high price, and I am glad he has come through it well. But I think the industry should ask itself whether twelve is too young to carry that kind of life. He survived it, and he thrived, but not every child would, and that is worth remembering when we celebrate young stars.

If I could speak to a young reader who admires him, I would say this: learn a craft, and learn it properly. Yi Yangqianxi did not become a good actor by wishing for it. He went to school, he studied, and he took hard roles. If you want to be an actor, or a dancer, or a singer, do the same. Study, practise, and be willing to start as a beginner, even if you are already famous. That humility is the reason he succeeded, and it is the reason I believe he will keep succeeding. A star who is willing to learn will always have a future, because learning never ends.

Looking ahead, I believe Yi Yangqianxi’s best films are still in front of him. He has the training, the discipline, and the honesty to take on roles that matter, and he has the patience to choose quality over quantity. The boy who danced his way onto a stage at twelve is becoming a man who can hold a whole cinema in silence, and that change is the most important thing about him. If he keeps studying, keeps dancing, and keeps choosing difficult roles, his films will be watched for many years, by people who need stories that are true. That is a future worth building, and I hope he builds it one film at a time. One more thought about Yi Yangqianxi: the film world is waiting to see what he does next, and that is a good place for a young actor to be. He has already proved he can carry a serious film, and now he has the freedom to choose roles that challenge him in new ways. If he keeps choosing quality over quantity, and if he keeps learning from the directors he works with, I believe he will become one of the great actors of his generation. The boy who danced his way onto a stage has become a man who can hold a whole cinema in silence, and that is a remarkable journey. One more thought about Yi Yangqianxi: the film world is waiting to see what he does next, and that is a good place for a young actor to be. He has already proved he can carry a serious film, and now he has the freedom to choose roles that challenge him in new ways. If he keeps choosing quality over quantity, and if he keeps learning from the directors he works with, I believe he will become one of the great actors of his generation. The boy who danced his way onto a stage has become a man who can hold a whole cinema in silence, and that is a remarkable journey, built on years of practice that began when he was a small child in Hunan.

And one more thing: his dancing is still the foundation of everything he does, and I hope he never gives it up. A dancer’s body, a dancer’s discipline, and a dancer’s eye for movement are skills that make him a better actor every day. When he walks into a scene, the audience can see the years of training in the way he stands and moves. That is a gift that cannot be learned in a few months, and it is the reason his performances feel so physical and so true.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Yi Yangqianxi born?

Yi Yangqianxi was born on 28 November 2000 in Huaihua, Hunan province, in central China. He grew up there and began studying dance when he was very young. He is also widely known by the name Jackson Yee.

How did Yi Yangqianxi join TFBoys?

He joined TFBoys in 2013 as the third and youngest member, alongside Wang Junkai and Wang Yuan. He was twelve years old at the time. He brought strong dancing skills to the group, and the trio debuted in August 2013, becoming famous with “Manual of Youth” in 2014.

What is Yi Yangqianxi’s most famous film?

His most famous film is Better Days, released in 2019, in which he played a young man named Xiao Bei who protects a schoolgirl from bullying. His performance was widely praised, and the film became one of the most successful Chinese films of its year. It proved he could carry a serious film on his own.

Did Yi Yangqianxi study acting?

Yes, in 2018 he was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, one of the most respected acting schools in China. He studied acting there while continuing his work with TFBoys and his solo career. The training helped him take on difficult film roles.

What other films has Yi Yangqianxi starred in?

After Better Days, he starred in A Little Red Flower, about a young man living with illness, Nice View, about a young man trying to build a better life for his family, and Full River Red, a large historical film. Each role was different, and each showed a new side of his talent as an actor.

Was Yi Yangqianxi a captain on Street Dance of China?

Yes, he served as a captain on the show Street Dance of China, guiding a team of dancers through a tough competition. The role suited him because he had danced since childhood. Viewers praised his calm leadership and the way he taught and encouraged his team.