Recently, Chinese dramas (C-dramas) have reignited a strong trend of Republican-era fashion, with numerous popular male actors donning military uniforms to portray authoritative young warlords or elite spies. From Zhang Linghe’s upright appearance in 'This Second, Too Far', to Roy Wang’s (Ding Yuxi) calm portrayal in 'Southern Archives', and William Chan’s return as the majestic 'Big Buddha Master' in 'The Nine Gates', military and officer attire consistently amplifies the charisma and physical appeal of these leading men. Upcoming dramas such as Xiao Zhan’s 'Unlimited Espionage' and Cheng Lei’s 'Jade Mat Autumn' are also highly anticipated. According to a report by BEAUTY Meiren Quan, Weibo users recently voted on their most captivating 'Military Uniform Heartthrobs in C-Dramas' in a special Top 10 ranking. Who truly stands as the ultimate military fashion icon in fans’ hearts? Below is the complete list. Top 10 Most Handsome Military Uniform Gods in C-Dramas (Voted by Netizens) Rank Actor Representative/Upcoming Drama Character Name/Features 1 Wallace Chung 'Too Late to Say I Love You' Murong Feng 2 Cheng Lei 'Jade Mat Autumn' Yu Changxuan 3 Zhang Linghe 'This Second, Too Far' Murong Qingye 4 Zhu Yilong 'The Rebel' Lin Nansheng 5 Zhang Ruoyun 'No Doubt' Zhang Xianzong 6 William Chan 'The Nine Gates' / 'Old Nine Gates' Zhang Qishan 7 Roy Wang (Ding Yuxi) 'Southern Archives' Zhang Haixia 8 Raymond Lam (Ren Jialun) 'Autumn Cicada' Ye Chong 9 Chen Zheyuan 'Floating Life' Ao Chi 10 Ao Ruipeng 'Myriad Flower World' Republican-era Unit Male Lead 10th Place: Ao Ruipeng – 'Myriad Flower World' Standing at an impressive 188 cm, Ao Ruipeng caused a stir online when behind-the-scenes photos from the time-travel themed drama 'Myriad Flower World' showed him in a military uniform during its Republican-era segment. Naturally exuding a domineering CEO aura, he wears the uniform with the confidence of a fashion week runway model. 9th Place: Chen Zheyuan – 'Floating Life' In the supernatural fantasy drama 'Floating Life', Chen Zheyuan plays Ao Chi, a mysterious young warlord, who teams up with Wang Churan’s tree demon innkeeper to solve supernatural cases. His sharp military look and cold gaze combine to reveal a new, restrained charm unlike his previous roles. 8th Place: Raymond Lam – 'Autumn Cicada' Known for his strong presence in historical costumes, Raymond Lam plays Ye Chong, a double agent embedded within the Japanese army in the espionage drama 'Autumn Cicada'. He excels at portraying high-IQ detectives or undercover agents, and his military uniform adds further gravitas and composure to his character. 7th Place: Roy Wang (Ding Yuxi) – 'Southern Archives' In 'Southern Archives', a prequel to 'The Lost Tomb', Ding Yuxi plays Zhang Haixia, a calm and steady character who solves mysteries with his companions. His sleek military uniform, combined with his loyal and righteous personality, gives the character strong dramatic tension. Roy Wang in 'Southern Archives'. (Image: Sourced from Weibo) 6th Place: William Chan – 'The Nine Gates' William Chan’s portrayal of 'Big Buddha Master' Zhang Qishan in 'Old Nine Gates' remains a classic in military-uniform roles. A decade later, he reprises the role in the sequel 'The Nine Gates', and his upright military posture and age-defying appearance astonish viewers, proving that time has left no trace. His commanding presence as the leader of the 'Top Three Gates' remains as powerful as ever. 5th Place: Zhang Ruoyun – 'No Doubt' Zhang Ruoyun’s role as warlord Zhang Xianzong in 'No Doubt' remains an unforgettable character for countless drama fans. His unwavering love and obsession with Yue Qiluo, paired with his sharp military uniform look, perfectly captured the character’s dark yet magnetic appeal. 4th Place: Zhu Yilong – 'The Rebel' Zhu Yilong, a veteran of multiple Republican-era dramas, plays Lin Nansheng in 'The Rebel', a scholar who abandons literature for the military. In his Republican military uniform, he exudes a gentle, scholarly demeanor combined with unyielding determination. His layered performance brings depth and realism to the character. 3rd Place: Zhang Linghe – 'This Second, Too Far' Zhang Linghe’s tall stature allows him to command the screen in military attire. In 'This Second, Too Far', he plays Murong Qingye, a young warlord with a tragic past and complex emotional entanglements. Despite the drama’s intense, heartbreaking plot, Zhang Linghe’s authoritative and passionate military look successfully captured the hearts of many viewers. Zhang Linghe in 'This Second, Too Far'. (Image: Sourced from IMDb) 2nd Place: Cheng Lei – 'Jade Mat Autumn' Cheng Lei, known for his intense 'bad boy + suave' charm, plays the cold warlord Yu Changxuan in the Republican-era tragic romance 'Jade Mat Autumn'. The drama explores a love story entangled with revenge and political intrigue, and his powerful aura and striking military appearance have generated significant anticipation. 1st Place: Wallace Chung – 'Too Late to Say I Love You' Taking the crown is none other than Wallace Chung! Whenever military-uniformed male leads in C-dramas are discussed, his role as young warlord Murong Feng in 'Too Late to Say I Love You' remains an unsurpassable classic. In the drama, Murong Feng is ambitious and decisive, embarking on a passionate, tumultuous romance with the daughter of a wealthy merchant during a chaotic era. Despite the character’s controversial nature, Wallace Chung’s top-tier charisma and commanding military presence perfectly blend the warlord’s dominance with deep emotion, making him the most unforgettable Republican-era military figure for countless viewers. Netizens commented: 'He portrayed Murong Sishao’s warlord arrogance, ambition, and deep, obsessive love for Jingwan so profoundly. The military uniform looks tailor-made on him.' 'The greatest success of Wallace Chung’s Murong Peilin is how he captured the contradictions of a warlord in turbulent times. His ambition in business and forceful pursuit in love are seamlessly fused through incredibly nuanced acting—never feeling clichéd, only deeply moving.' 'Watching this drama, I was instantly captivated by Sishao’s gaze countless times. Whether it’s his tender look at Jingwan or his resolute determination on the battlefield, Wallace Chung nailed every moment. He truly brought this character to life.' 'The dialogue and plot might feel dated now, but the chemistry between Wallace Chung and Li Xiaoran is incredibly strong. Both actors deliver outstanding performances, portraying the heart-wrenching chaos of wartime love perfectly.' 'Re-watching 'Too Late to Say I Love You', I’m still so mesmerized by Wallace Chung that I can’t sleep! He perfectly embodies Sishao’s passion, dominance, madness, and helplessness.' 'Wallace Chung’s Murong Peilin is truly iconic—his military uniform is stunning, his eyes full of emotion. He perfectly captures the warlord’s authority and passion. The spark between him and Li Xiaoran is explosive, and no Republican-era drama since has surpassed this.' 'Wallace Chung’s acting is truly god-tier, especially in emotional breakdowns and crying scenes. The despair of losing love is so powerfully conveyed that I cried through several boxes of tissues while watching.'

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  • Source: PR Times
  • Category: News