“Foundation general” no more: Zhang Linghe bares it all — almost — in new documentary

Zhang Linghe, the breakout star of hit Chinese period romance drama Pursuit of Jade, has captivated audiences as the suave war general Xie Zheng, the Marquis of Wu’an — a character described in the original novel as having a “face like cold jade”.

The 40-episode drama has become one of the year’s most talked-about series, dominating social media feeds with constant buzz surrounding its plot twists and star-studded cast. With his chiselled features, towering frame and porcelain complexion, netizens have even jokingly dubbed the 28-year-old actor the “foundation general”.

Now, Zhang Linghe is shedding the polished image fans know him for, going completely makeup-free in his new documentary role in The Answer is Earth, a documentary produced by Warner Bros. Discovery in collaboration with WildAid.

As WildAid’s newly appointed ambassador, the lanky 1.9m-tall Jiangsu native taps into his background in electrical engineering, learning about sustainability technologies alongside frontline engineers and experts in his home province.

An Instagram carousel post from the documentary — showing the Nanjing Normal University alumnus makeup-free with naturally tousled hair — has since racked up more than 1.1 million likes at the time of writing, with fans swooning over his “god-given” visuals and naturally radiant complexion.

The Answer is Earth is set to air on the Discovery Channel in Singapore, with more details expected to be announced in the coming weeks.