Zhang Yimou’s Dashing 20-Year-Old Son Is Already An Award-Winning Director In China

Yimou’s wife, Chen Ting, had posted some pictures from a photoshoot the three of them had done, including some solo shots of Yinan. While there weren’t any pics of the entire Zhang family — Yimou and Chen Ting have two more kids, a daughter and another son, together — netizens were more than satisfied with the pictures of Yinan.

“Yinan's levelled up to his 2.0 version, happy birthday! My sunshine boy, here’s wishing that you to stay calm and unhurried, as well as grounded, armed with an optimistic and diligent attitude to defeat all foes as you journey through life,” Chen Ting wrote in her post.

Although Yinan’s only 20, it appears that the young man’s already quite the accomplished filmmaker.

When he was 16, he started shadowing his father at work, working as part of the crew on 2018 wuxia film, Shadow.

At 17, Yinan and his classmates won the Best Director, Best Music Score and Best In Show awards at the Shanghai Student Film Festival for a short film they’d produced.

Netizens were quick to heap praise on Yinan, with one netizen gushing that he’s “inherited the best traits from his dad and mum”.

Others also lamented that it's “a pity” that Yinan’s set on becoming a director like his father, ‘cos he’s “so handsome, he should be working in front of the camera instead”.

Yimou, 71, also has a daughter from his first marriage. Zhang Mo is 38 and like her dad and stepbrother is working as a director too.

Photos: Chen Ting/Weibo