In recent years, he has spent nearly 300 days a year shuttling from one historical drama to another, in an unbroken cycle of costumed roles.

The work was immersive to the point of disorientation. Mornings began with hours in the makeup chair — with delicate makeup, heavy wigs, and intricately embroidered robes transforming him into someone from another era.

"Sometimes, lying in my bed at night, I'd dream I was still in a palace, like I'd actually become the person I was playing," he says.

His efforts soon bore fruit. After gaining recognition for his antagonist role in the 2021 costume drama One and Only, Wang expanded his international reach the following year when his food-themed series Delicacies Destiny was streamed on Disney Plus, winning praise for his vivid portrayal of a crown prince who falls in love with a talented female chef.

In 2023, his costume drama Scent of Time aired on HBO, drawing a wider fan base with his performance as the gentle and affectionate head of a fragrance and medicine family. In 2024, his romance drama The Double — a tale of revenge and redemption — was distributed in multiple countries, including Thailand and South Korea.

"I hope these dramas, deeply rooted in our rich culture and traditions, can carry China's legacy to audiences around the world," says the young actor.