# Zhang Tielin

Zhang Tielin (born 15 June 1957) is a Chinese-British actor and film director. He is best known for portraying the Qianlong Emperor in the first two seasons of My Fair Princess and in the four seasons of The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan.

## Early life and education

Zhang was born in Tangshan, China and grew up in Weinan. In 1973, he was sent to Lintong District, Xi'an to perform agricultural labour as part of the Chinese government's Down to the Countryside Movement. Three years later, he became a construction worker in Xi'an.
In 1978, Zhang enrolled in the Beijing Film Academy and graduated in 1982, after which he worked in the television station Tianjin Television. In 1984, Zhang made his debut in the films The Burning of Imperial Palace, Reign Behind a Curtain and Under the Bridge, of which the third one propelled him to fame.

## Career

In 1987, Zhang went to England to further his studies at the British Film Institute and he graduated in 1990. He became a British citizen in 1997. In the early 1990s, Zhang went to Hong Kong to expand his career and signed a contract with film producer Tsui Hark, working together with Tsui on the Once Upon a Time in China film series. He joined the Hong Kong television network Phoenix Television in 1996 and worked there briefly before returning to the Chinese entertainment industry. His portrayal of the Qianlong Emperor in the first two seasons of the television series My Fair Princess boosted his fame. Zhang starred together with actors Wang Gang and Zhang Guoli in many television series and they are collectively known as the "Iron Triangle" in the Chinese entertainment industry.
In 2007, Zhang became the dean of the art school of Jinan University in Guangzhou.

## Personal life

In 1987, Zhang met a Polish girl while studying at the British Film Institute. In September 1991, she gave birth to a daughter on the Mid-Autumn Festival and Zhang named her daughter "Zhang Yueyue" (张月亮).

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Under the Bridge 大桥下面 | Gao Zhihua | |
| 1984 | Duocai De Chenguang 多彩的晨光 | Lin Lishuang | |
| 1984 | The Burning of Imperial Palace 火烧圆明园 | Prince Gong | |
| 1984 | Reign Behind a Curtain 垂帘听政 | Yisu | |
| 1991 | Once Upon a Time in China II 黄飞鸿之男儿当自强 | Sun Yat-sen | |
| 1993 | Xianhe Shenzhen 仙鹤神针 | Cao Xiong | |
| 1994 | Once Upon a Time in China V 黄飞鸿之龙城歼霸 | Chief constable Xie Sibao | |
| 1995 | Man from China 椅子 | | director |
| 1999 | Xin Duguo Choucheng 新赌国仇城 | Chou Yisen | |
| 1999 | The Lion King II: Simba's Pride | Simba | Mandarin dub |
| 2009 | The Silver Valley 白银帝国 | Old Master Kang | |
| 2009 | Astro Boy | Dr. Tenma | Mandarin dub |
| 2012 | Qian Xuesen 钱学森 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2012 | The Southern Storm 南方大冰雪 | | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | You Yige Qingnian 有一个青年 | Gu Minghua | |
| 1985 | Sanyuedi De Chuchun 三月地的初春 | | |
| 1996 | Hangong Feiyan 汉宫飞燕 | Emperor Cheng of Han | |
| 1997 | Dongbei Yijiaren 东北一家人 | | |
| 1997 | My Fair Princess 还珠格格 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 1998 | Hua Mulan 花木兰 | Jade Emperor | |
| 1998 | The Female Official 女巡按 | Wen Bizheng | guest star |
| 1999 | Biezou Woaini 别走我爱你 | Wang Zong | |
| 1999 | Ghost Tales 聊斋先生 | Pu Songling | |
| 1999 | My Fair Princess II 还珠格格2 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 2000 | Wrong Carriage, Right Groom 上错花轿嫁对郎 | Emperor | |
| 2001 | Lü Buwei: Hero in Times of Disorder 乱世英雄吕不韦 | Lü Buwei | |
| 2001 | The Bronze Teeth 铁齿铜牙纪晓岚 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 2001 | Taiji Prodigy 少年张三丰 | Master Chengkong | |
| 2001 | Mingbu Zhen Guandong 名捕震关东 | Jiajing Emperor | |
| 2002 | Book and Sword, Gratitude and Revenge 书剑恩仇录 | Yu Wanting | |
| 2002 | The Bronze Teeth II 铁齿铜牙纪晓岚2 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 2002 | Qing Dynasty God of Medicine 大清药王 | Yue Hongda | |
| 2002 | Longfeng Qiyuan 龙凤奇缘 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 2003 | Eighteen Monks 十八罗汉 | Abbot | |
| 2003 | The Vicissitudes of Life 人生几度秋凉 | Fu Silong | |
| 2003 | The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber 倚天屠龙记 | Yang Xiao | |
| 2003 | Huoshuai 火帅 | Emperor Renzong of Song | |
| 2003 | The Return of Justice Bao 包公出巡 | Emperor Renzong of Song | |
| 2003 | Buyi Tianzi 布衣天子 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 2004 | Buyi Zhixian Fan Ruhua 布衣知县梵如花 | Sanjueluo | |
| 2004 | The Bronze Teeth III 铁齿铜牙纪晓岚3 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 2004 | Canghai Bainian 沧海百年 | Fuk'anggan | |
| 2004 | The 36th Chamber of Shaolin 南少林三十六房 | Yongzheng Emperor | |
| 2004 | Da Tang Fu Rong Yuan 大唐芙蓉园 | Li Bai | guest star |
| 2004 | The Phantasmal Angel 幻影天使 | Wang Zhengzhong | |
| 2004 | The Perfect Banquet 满汉全席 | Kangxi Emperor | |
| 2004 | Aroma in Autumn 五月槐花香 | Fan Shirong | |
| 2004 | Yuqian Sibao 御前四宝 | Shunzhi Emperor | |
| 2004 | Assassinator Jing Ke 荆轲传奇 | Lü Buwei | |
| 2004 | Miracle Healers 神医侠侣 | Xing Shan | |
| 2004 | Yuanlai Jiushi Ni 原来就是你 | Yi Zhengbang | |
| 2005 | The Juvenile Qianlong Emperor 少年宝亲王 | Ye Xu | |
| 2005 | Song Liansheng Zuotang 宋莲生坐堂 | Shunzhi Emperor | |
| 2005 | Crazy King and General Iron 铁将军阿贵 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 2005 | The Great Dunhuang 大敦煌 | Qing governor | guest star |
| 2005 | Yingxiong Zhi 英雄志 | Wuying Emperor | |
| 2006 | Fly with Me 想飞 | Han Kai | |
| 2006 | Canjian Zhen Jianghu 残剑震江湖 | Yan Kang | |
| 2006 | Empress Dowager Feng of Northern Wei 北魏冯太后 | Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei | |
| 2006 | Feichang Fuqi 非常夫妻 | Yan Yuedong | |
| 2006 | Emerald on the Roof 屋顶上的绿宝石 | Ling Xinfu | |
| 2006 | The Legendary Warrior 薛仁贵传奇 | Li Daozong | |
| 2006 | Carol of Zhenguan 贞观长歌 | Luo Yi | |
| 2007 | Wu Zi Bei Ge 无字碑歌 | Emperor Gaozong of Tang | |
| 2008 | Zhongli Xun Ta Qianbaidu 众里寻她千百度 | Lin Haitao | |
| 2008 | The Bronze Teeth IV 铁齿铜牙纪晓岚4 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 2009 | Huang Yanpei 黄炎培 | Huang Yanpei | |
| 2010 | Mudan Ting 牡丹亭 | Emperor Gaozong of Song | |
| 2010 | Baijiaxing Chuanshuo 百家姓传说 | Yanhuang | |
| 2011 | All Men Are Brothers 水浒传 | Marshal Hong | |
| 2011 | Modeng Xin Renlei 摩登新人类 | Xie Leizhen | |
| 2011 | Heise Mingdan 黑色名单 | Liu Zhiqi | |
| 2011 | Zhongguo 1945 Zhi Chongqing Fengyun 中国1945之重庆风云 | Huang Yanpei | |
| 2011 | Bainian Wanxiang 百年莞香 | | |
| 2011 | Huguo Junhun Chuanqi 护国军魂传奇 | Zhang Taiyan | |
| 2011 | Mu Guiying Takes Command 穆桂英挂帅 | Emperor Zhenzong of Song | |
| 2011 | Bo Yi 博弈 | Bi Zhenzhong | |
| 2012 | Management Marriage 经营婚姻 | Qingniao's father | |
| 2012 | Red Army Expedition East 红军东征 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2012 | The Legend of the Huangmei Opera Grandmaster 黄梅戏宗师传奇 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 2012 | Gandong Shengming 感动生命 | Guan Mingmei | |
| 2012 | Dao Ying 刀影 | | |
| 2012 | Shuxiang 书香 | | |
| 2012 | Wenfang Sibao 文房四宝 | | |