湖南卫视金鹰电视艺术节开幕

In Changsha City of Central China’s Hunan Province, the Golden Eagle TV Art Festival has lowered its curtain with an upbeat gala.

Initiated in 1983, the Golden Eagle Awards has become one of the most important events in the circle of Chinese television. The awards are the only one of its kind, where award winners are chosen mainly by viewers’ votes. This year, the awards ceremony seemed like more of a party for the TV stars and the fans alike.

The highlight of the festival is the evening gala, where favorite TV actors and actresses are recognized. They have made hundreds of millions laugh and cry, through the magic of television.

China’s Olympians Feng Zhe and Chen Yibin, who made the country proud in London, were the first set of presenters to announce the winners of the Favorite TV Actors and Actress awards. Young actor Wen Zhang impressed the fans through his vivid portrayal of a war-time hero, while Chen Shu won the heart of fans with her dazzling performance in a TV series.

In total, 4 actors and 4 actresses took home a Golden Eagle Award for Favorite TV Actor and Actress. Song Jia accepted the award for Best Performing Arts Actress from her first mentor Li Zhiyu, who won the Golden Eagle Award back in 1985. Wu Xiubo won the award for Best Performing Arts Actor, his first Golden Eagle Award! His performance in the spy thriller "Before Dawn" was a sensation throughout the country.

Wu Xiubo, actor, said, "I just learned that the Golden Eagle Award has been through 3 decades. 30 years ago, I was just a teenager. This is truly a very big award! I’m grateful to my predecessors and the fans alike. I won’t let you down and I will keep working hard. Thank you and hope the Golden Eagle Awards continue for decades to come."

This year is the first time the organizing committee set up a Golden Eagle Award for artists from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. HK singer-turned actor Wallace Zhong won recognition for this part playing a set of twins in a spy thriller TV series, "Imminent Crisis". He said he enjoyed working in the mainland.

Wallace Chung, HK actor, said, "It’s not that different. We are all Chinese and, you know everyone is from different places and the art of television really connects us. And I have received warm welcome and a lot help here."

With voting cast up until the very last award, the Most Popular Actor and Actress awards closed the night, and held the highest anticipation. Actor Wen Zhang and Actress Yang Mi took home the honors.