Although he only appeared in a few scenes of the legendary Chinese TV series Journey to the West, child actor Wang Lei left a strong impression on viewers thanks to his adorable appearance.
Few people know that the 1986 adaptation of the classic novel actually used six actors to portray the monk Tang Sanzang three adults and three child actors.
In episode 4, titled “Imprisoned at Five Elements Mountain,” several flashback scenes explore Tang Sanzang’s early life. In those scenes, the young monk was portrayed by Wang Lei. Director Yang Jie selected him partly because his facial features resembled those of Wang Yue, who played the adult Tang Sanzang at the time.
Despite appearing briefly, Wang Lei’s bright eyes, gentle smile, and charming face made him unforgettable to many viewers. After Journey to the West, he participated in a few smaller projects before focusing on his studies.
Leaving Acting After an Unsuccessful “Glow-Up”
As Wang Lei grew older, his appearance changed significantly. Many people commented that he no longer resembled the cute child who once played the young Tang Sanzang.
His delicate facial features reportedly became more square-shaped, and his eyes and nose looked different from his childhood appearance. Because of these changes, some observers joked that he had not experienced a “successful glow-up.”
However, while his looks may have changed, Wang Lei’s career path proved highly successful.
After finishing high school, the former child actor was admitted to the prestigious Sichuan Conservatory of Music, one of China’s top institutions for music education.
Rising as a Powerful Figure in the Music Industry
After graduating, Wang Lei moved into the music industry and built a career as a composer and music producer. Over the years, he participated in producing albums for many famous stars across Asia.
Artists linked to projects he worked on reportedly include Zhao Wei, Michael Wong, Rain, BoA, Han Hong, and TVXQ. Beyond production work, Wang Lei also wrote analytical columns for music magazines and occasionally served as a judge on entertainment programs.
Chinese media previously reported that he helped establish NetEase Cloud Music and played a key role in building it into a well-known music distribution platform. Later, he was invited to join Baidu Music as general manager.
In 2016, Wang Lei stepped down from his role at Baidu and was recruited by Tencent Music Entertainment to help manage the company before its public listing.
Despite his prominent career in the music industry, Wang Lei has maintained a very low profile regarding his personal life. Media outlets have rarely been able to obtain information about his family or relationships.
One of the few personal incidents known to the public occurred in 2013, when he was mistakenly identified as another singer with the same name who had been convicted of robbing a woman while intoxicated. The misunderstanding caused brief confusion before it was clarified.
Sources: Znews