Chinese Actress Li Yitong Was Once Zhao Liying’s Stand-In; Her Big Break Came During Liying’s Hiatus

Li Yitong, 35, best known for her breakout role as Huang Rong in the 2017 drama The Legend of the Condor Heroes, is now one of China’s most in-demand actresses.

But behind her success lies an unlikely beginning — as a stand-in for one of China’s biggest stars.

Before the fame, Yitong was a trained folk dancer who graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy.

Acting wasn’t even part of her original plan. She once considered opening a teahouse that incorporated dance performances, until a chance opportunity to help a friend film a short video sparked her interest in being in front of the camera.

That twist of fate led her into the entertainment industry, where her petite frame and delicate features caught attention for another reason — her resemblance to A-list actress Zhao Liying.

The similarity landed her work as Liying’s body double, stepping in for scenes that required professional dance movements or where the actress’ face wasn’t shown.

In 2016, she caught the eye of producer Yu Zheng, who cast her as the female lead in period fantasy web series Demon Girl after reportedly auditioning hundreds of newcomers. It was a rare leap from stand-in to starring role — and Yitong didn’t let the opportunity slip.

Just a year later, she shot to fame as Huang Rong in The Legend of the Condor Heroes. Her portrayal was so well received, she was dubbed “the most beautiful Huang Rong” by audiences.

When Liying took a step back from filming following news of her pregnancy in 2018, Yitong's career gained momentum.

She threw herself into auditions and projects, at one point reportedly taking on as many as 14 roles in a single year, most of them leading parts.

Despite her achievements, comparisons to Liying have never quite gone away, but Yitong isn’t fazed.

“I’m not afraid of people saying I resemble someone else,” she once said. “What I fear most is not performing each role well.”