For Cheng Lei, his first-ever visit to Indonesia came with a special moment: meeting the fans who have supported his work from afar.

The Chinese drama star and iQIYI International Global Ambassador made his highly anticipated debut in Jakarta as part of iQIYI Starship, an event that brought Chinese artists closer to their international fans. Held at Gandaria City on September 12, 2026, the event gave Indonesian fans the chance to interact with Cheng Lei while also allowing the actor to experience the warmth and enthusiasm of his fans firsthand.

Cheng Lei admitted that he was thrilled to finally meet his Indonesian fans in person. Before arriving in the country, he had already heard plenty about Indonesia and the warm reception from local fans. Experiencing their enthusiasm directly, however, turned out to be an entirely different experience.“This is my first time coming to Indonesia, and I’m very happy to finally meet my fans here in person,” Cheng Lei said.

As a C-Drama actor, Cheng Lei also sees events like iQIYI Starship as an opportunity to build connections with fans from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. For him, differences in language and culture do not necessarily create distance when people share a love for the same stories.

He believes stories from Asia have the power to connect people across borders and hopes to continue sharing more Asian stories and productions with audiences around the world.

More Than a Fan Meeting: Cheng Lei Plays Bekel and Tries Indonesian Food

Cheng Lei’s first encounter with Indonesian fans was about more than simply waving to the crowd or chatting on stage.

iQIYI Starship featured a variety of interactive activities designed to create a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere between the actor and his fans. One of the memorable moments came when Cheng Lei took part in a picture-guessing game before getting a chance to try bola bekel, a traditional Indonesian game.

The simple yet playful activity offered Cheng Lei a glimpse into a piece of Indonesian culture while giving fans a chance to see a more spontaneous side of the actor.

His Indonesian experience continued with another important part of local culture: food. Cheng Lei had the opportunity to taste Indonesian specialties during the event, adding another memorable chapter to his first trip to the country.

The event also featured a particularly personal moment when Cheng Lei read fan letters written by his Indonesian supporters. The letters allowed fans to express their appreciation directly, turning the interaction into something more heartfelt and personal.

The enthusiastic response from fans who traveled from different parts of Indonesia also moved Cheng Lei. He was touched to learn that so many Indonesian viewers had followed and enjoyed his projects over the years.

For Cheng Lei, that support means a great deal. He expressed his gratitude to his Indonesian fans and shared his hope of creating and sharing more joyful moments with them in the future.

Ultimately, the activities at iQIYI Starship transformed the event into more than a typical celebrity meet-and-greet. For Cheng Lei, his first visit to Indonesia was an opportunity not only to meet his fans, but also to experience a little of the culture and warmth of the country they call home.

From How Dare You to Shadow Love: Cheng Lei Popular Dramas

For C-Drama fans, Cheng Lei is hardly a new name.

Over the past few years, the Chinese actor has continued to gain international recognition through a number of popular productions, with his performances attracting audiences well beyond China.

One of the titles highlighted during iQIYI Starship was How Dare You. The drama premiered on February 6, 2026, and remained in the iQIYI International Global Weekly C-Drama Top 10 for seven consecutive weeks, including four consecutive weeks at No. 1.

In the series, Cheng Lei plays Xiahou Dan, a character who crosses into another world and becomes a tyrannical figure. The role offered him another opportunity to showcase his versatility while introducing his performance to an even wider international audience.

Cheng Lei has also starred in Legend of the Female General, which made it into the iQIYI International Global C-Drama All Time Top 10.

Meanwhile, his 2025 drama Shadow Love enjoyed an impressive run, remaining in the Global Weekly C-Drama Top 10 for 12 consecutive weeks.

One of the highlights of Shadow Love is Cheng Lei’s performance as three different characters. Taking on multiple roles with distinct personalities and backgrounds allowed viewers to see different facets of his acting ability.

And Cheng Lei’s journey is far from over.

Fans can look forward to two upcoming projects, The Lament of Autumn and Leading Stars, adding to an already growing list of productions that continue to raise his profile among international C-Drama audiences.

Stories That Bring Fans Together

As an iQIYI International Global Ambassador, Cheng Lei has increasingly had opportunities to connect with fans from different countries and cultural backgrounds.

His first trip to Indonesia offered a clear example of how entertainment can transcend language and geography. While fans and artists may come from different places, a shared appreciation for a story can create a connection that feels remarkably close.

For Cheng Lei, that connection is perhaps the most meaningful part of being able to meet audiences around the world.

His Jakarta visit may have been his first time in Indonesia, but the warm welcome from Indonesian fans made it a memorable one. From playing a traditional game and tasting local food to reading heartfelt fan letters, Cheng Lei’s iQIYI Starship appearance became a celebration not only of his work, but also of the connection between Asian artists and the audiences who continue to embrace their stories.