Chinese actor and iQIYI International Global Ambassador Cheng Lei is set to make his first-ever visit to Indonesia, giving local C-Drama fans the chance to meet the rising star in person.

Cheng Lei will visit Jakarta as part of iQIYI Starship 2026, which will take place at the Mini Atrium of Gandaria City, Jakarta, on Saturday, September 12, 2026.

The highly anticipated appearance is expected to be a special moment for Indonesian fans who have followed Cheng Lei through some of his most popular Mandarin drama roles. Rather than simply watching their favorite actor on screen, selected fans will have the opportunity to interact with him face-to-face.

Dinesh Ratnam, Senior Managing Director for Southeast Asia at iQIYI International, said the event is designed to bring fans and their favorite stars closer together.

For many C-Drama viewers, he explained, the experience goes beyond simply following a storyline. Audiences often develop a deeper connection with the characters and actors they watch and grow alongside them throughout their careers.

“We are thrilled to bring Cheng Lei to Indonesia. For many fans, enjoying C-Dramas is not only about following the story, but also growing alongside the characters and actors they love,” Dinesh said in a press statement on August 10, 2026.

The event is also intended to create a space for Indonesia’s Mandarin-drama community to share memorable moments with one another and celebrate their passion for C-Dramas.

Cheng Lei’s Rising International Profile

Cheng Lei has steadily gained international recognition through a string of high-profile C-Dramas.

In 2025, he appeared in Legend of the Female General and Shadow Love, further establishing himself as an actor capable of taking on demanding roles.

His popularity grew even further in the first quarter of 2026 following the release of How Dare You!?, which climbed the global drama charts and became one of the most talked-about series of the period.

One of Cheng Lei’s strengths is his ability to explore complex characters with dramatically different personalities.

In How Dare You!?, he portrays two contrasting sides of the story through Xiahou Dan and Zhang San, in a narrative that combines time travel, political intrigue, and romance. The dual roles allow him to showcase a wide range of emotions and acting styles within the same series.

His versatility is also on display in the historical romance Shadow Love, in which he takes on three different characters: Jin An, Duan Ao Deng, and Prince Annan.

Each character comes with a distinct personality, requiring Cheng Lei to make significant adjustments in his performance. To prepare for the physically demanding roles, he reportedly underwent intensive physical training to make the characters’ transformations more convincing on screen.

A First Jakarta Visit Filled With Fan Moments

Cheng Lei’s upcoming Jakarta appearance continues a growing trend of major Chinese stars visiting Indonesia to connect directly with their fan communities.

Previous C-Drama stars, including Chen Zheyuan and Esther Yu, have also held fan-focused activities in Indonesia, highlighting the country’s growing enthusiasm for Chinese television and its stars.

For Cheng Lei, the Jakarta visit will provide an opportunity to meet viewers who have supported his acting career from afar and personally express his appreciation for their continued enthusiasm.

However, the face-to-face session will be limited to 180 selected fans.

Fans were invited to participate by submitting creative written messages, or fan letters, during the submission period from August 10 to 23, 2026. The selected participants were scheduled to be announced on Friday, August 28, through iQIYI Indonesia’s official social media channels.

For Indonesian C-Drama fans, Cheng Lei’s first trip to Jakarta promises to be more than just another celebrity appearance. It is an opportunity to bring the connection between a beloved actor and his international audience from the screen into the real world.

And for the fans lucky enough to be among the 180 selected participants, September 12 could become a memory worth keeping for a very long time.