Zeng Shunxi Plays from Grandson to Grandfather! Top 10 Most Amazing Cross-Generational Castings in Chinese Drama, with One Actor Portraying Three Generations Taking the Crown

Casting in Chinese dramas can sometimes be more surprising than the storyline. The same actor might play a grandson in one drama and then leap across time to portray a grandfather in the next. Zeng Shunxi, who played Wu Xie in *The Ultimate Note*, transformed into Wu Laogou—the grandfather of Wu Xie—in *The Nine Gates*, prompting fans to joke that "the Wu family shares one face." Wang Likun even portrayed three generations—grandmother, mother, and daughter—in *Beauty's Rival in Palace*. Based on discussions from Weibo and Douban, this article compiles the Top 10 Most Amazing Cross-Generational Castings in Chinese dramas, evaluated across four dimensions: generational span, character contrast, acting differentiation, and audience memorability.

No. 10: Gan Tingting in *Deep Palace Intrigue* Gan Tingting played both Yidan Gege and her daughter Liu Hanxiang. Yidan was about to marry Prince Gong but accidentally became pregnant with Emperor Kangxi’s child, giving birth to twins before perishing in a fire. Years later, her daughter Hanxiang enters the palace to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. The two characters are linked by the same palace mystery—Yidan carries a tragic fate, while Hanxiang is lively and defiant. Gan Tingting distinguished the two generations through makeup, tone of voice, and personality.

Despite harsh criticism online—some calling it "a disaster drama among disasters"—fans admitted, "This drama really tests our loyalty." Though plot holes drew attention, Gan Tingting’s performance, connecting a mother’s tragic death with a daughter’s quest for truth, made this cross-generational casting one of the most recognizable elements of the series.

No. 9: Xu Qing in *Long Tassel in Hand* Set in the late Qing and early Republican era, *Long Tassel in Hand* follows the loss of a national treasure. Xu Qing plays both Xiyue Gege and her daughter Ying’er. Xiyue, raised in the imperial palace, is gentle and dignified, sacrificing her life to reclaim the treasure. Ying’er, raised among commoners, is a free-spirited martial artist with a playful, street-smart charm. Xu Qing preserved similar facial features and aura between mother and daughter, yet their mannerisms and life experiences feel worlds apart.

Years later, viewers still revisit this classic, commenting, "It’s actually quite enjoyable, and the theme song is beautiful." Many praised Xu Qing’s portrayal of Ying’er as "pretty, innocent, and adorable." With her naturally classical beauty, Xu Qing embodied the palace-born gege as Xiyue, then shed that elegance to become Ying’er, allowing audiences to recognize her as the daughter—not just a younger version of the mother.

No. 8: Zhang Yanyan in *The Legendary Ranger* Zhang Yanyan, then a newcomer, played both mother Li Meiniang and daughter Zhu Qiqi. Li Meiniang is gentle and melancholic, bearing the weight of past sorrows. Zhu Qiqi, born into wealth, is spoiled and impulsive, wearing her emotions on her sleeve. Though they share the same face, their energies are opposites. Zhang Yanyan used eye contact, speech rhythm, and body language to ensure audiences never confused the two.

Zhu Qiqi’s temperamental nature sparked polarized reactions. Some said, "I experienced every emotion because of her," while others called her "the most annoying character ever." The fact that viewers got so angry they yelled at the screen proves Zhang Yanyan successfully conveyed the character’s petulance, honesty, and impulsiveness. Revisiting the gentle Li Meiniang afterward only heightened the contrast between mother and daughter.

No. 7: Jiang Qinqin in *Qinghe Tragedy* In the period tragedy *Qinghe Tragedy*, Jiang Qinqin played Shen Xinci and her daughter Zhao Xiuyun. Shen Xinci is gentle and enduring, her love with Zhao Shijun thwarted by family feuds, ultimately dying and leaving her daughter behind. Xiuyun grows up entangled in the previous generation’s emotional conflicts, but with a more direct and lively personality, showing greater courage in pursuing happiness. Jiang Qinqin played both mother and daughter, creating a sense of karmic repetition across generations on the same face.

Viewers revisiting still comment: "Nowadays, beauties are everywhere, but none have Jiang Qinqin’s ethereal charm—unforgettable." Others noted, "Jiang Qinqin’s acting here is actually quite strong." As Shen Xinci, her eyes carry repression and sorrow; as Xiuyun, her expression brightens. The same features convey two distinct life states, making the similarities and differences between mother and daughter equally convincing.

No. 6: Jiang Xin in *Chinese Paladin* In *Chinese Paladin*, Jiang Xin played the fox spirit Nüyuan and her daughter Jiang Wan’er, born from her love with Shu Mountain disciple Jiang Ming. Nüyuan is seductive and passionate, entering the Demon Prison Tower for love, embodying the maturity and resolve of a demon. Wan’er, raised in the tower since childhood, has clear eyes and a pure, kind nature. Though young at the time, Jiang Xin used intense performance to convey the mother’s tragedy, then shifted to a light, innocent tone for the daughter untouched by the world.

Viewers described Nüyuan and Jiang Ming’s love as "passion equals tragedy, destined to end in death," and this subplot remains one of the most heartbreaking in the series. Jiang Xin’s tearful gaze as Nüyuan radiates obsession; as Wan’er, she appears as a child who has never known human cruelty. The more tragic their fates, the sharper the contrast between mother and daughter.

No. 5: Zhou Yutong in *180 Days to Restart* In *180 Days to Restart*, Zhou Yutong plays Gu Yunsu, a 28-year-old who returns home after heartbreak and job loss, only to discover her 48-year-old mother, Wu Limei, is pregnant. Flashbacks feature young Wu Limei, also played by Zhou Yutong—meaning she plays both daughter and her younger mother. Both are stubborn and sharp-tongued, yet their environments and emotional choices differ greatly. This setup creates a mirror-like resonance in their conflicts.

After watching Zhou’s crying scenes, netizens said, "I saw myself in her tears." Neither mother nor daughter expresses care openly, often masking dependence with arguments. As young Wu Limei, Zhou is more aggressive and bold; as Gu Yunsu, she shows the fatigue of being worn down by reality, letting viewers see how both women once stood at similar life crossroads.

No. 4: An Yueyi in *If Dreams Float in Life* An Yueyi took on three generations in *If Dreams Float in Life*, playing modern woman Lin Jingyun, Republican-era Duan Tianying/Lin Ruomeng, and elegant Xia Anni. Living in different eras, with distinct careers, backgrounds, and personalities, their costumes range from modern chic to opera troupe attire to Republican-era elegance. An Yueyi had to frequently switch character states within the same drama, maintaining a familial resemblance while ensuring they didn’t feel like the same person in different outfits.

After the show aired, netizens said, "An Yueyi completely shattered my image of her as Tang Bao," while others praised her as "lively, natural, and skillful, clearly mastering each character’s essence." She separated the innocence of youth, the elegance of maturity, and the sharpness of a modern career woman. Even when the three stand together, viewers can instantly identify each by speech and gaze.

No. 3: Huang Xiaoming in *Dark Fragrance* In the business drama *Dark Fragrance*, Huang Xiaoming plays Cheng Da, the founder of the Cheng family, and Cheng Yuan, the fourth-generation heir. Cheng Da rises from a miner to build the family empire—steady and strong, embodying ambition and survival. Cheng Yuan, raised with Western education, is stylish and idealistic, with a nobleman’s charm. The characters span nearly a century. Huang Xiaoming uses the same face to show bloodline continuity, but his performances occupy entirely different spaces—one a pioneer, the other an heir.

Viewers commented, "I finally think Huang Xiaoming is handsome," and praised, "Huang Xiaoming in a suit is absolutely stunning!" Some even called Cheng Yuan "the perfect ideal partner." Cheng Yuan’s charm is unforgettable, but returning to Cheng Da’s segments, viewers feel the weight of the family’s struggle, creating a bloodline resonance across four generations.

No. 2: Zeng Shunxi in *The Nine Gates* In 2020’s *The Ultimate Note*, Zeng Shunxi played Wu Xie. In the 2026 series *The Nine Gates*, he jumps two generations forward to play Wu Laogou, Wu Xie’s grandfather and first patriarch of the Changsha Nine Gates Wu family. Wu Xie enters the tomb-raiding world with curiosity, retaining a scholarly, youthful aura. Wu Laogou, long seasoned in the江湖 (jianghu) and crises, is calm and calculating, with the vigilance of an old-school jianghu figure. Zeng Shunxi playing both grandson and grandfather creates an unexpected casting loop between the two series.

When the casting was revealed, netizens joked, "Six years later, Wu Xie is now playing his own grandfather," and "From grandson to grandfather—Wu family shares one face." Zeng’s features make the strong Wu family genes believable. He had to suppress his youthful energy, using steadier eyes and posture to embody Wu Laogou’s authority as a Nine Gates elder.

No. 1: Wang Likun in *Beauty's Rival in Palace* The champion is Wang Likun’s triple-generation performance in *Beauty's Rival in Palace*. She played Pinghua, her daughter Nie Shen’er, and Nie’s daughter Wang Zhi—grandmother, mother, and daughter. Pinghua, kind-hearted, has a short role but changes Dou Yifang’s life. Nie