The 2024 Weibo Night took place on Jan. 11 in Beijing, recognizing 43 individuals and events that had a substantial influence on entertainment, sports, esports, culture and more on Sina Weibo, a leading Chinese social media platform, over the past year.

Comedian Shen Teng and actor Zhao Liying win the top awards of Weibo king and Weibo queen, respectively, at the 2024 Weibo Night in Beijing, Jan. 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

Weibo Night has been an annual event since 2004, honoring celebrities in entertainment and culture, as well as key figures involved in significant events in Chinese society.

Numerous awards were presented to stars in the entertainment industry. Comedian Shen Teng and actor Zhao Liying received the top honors of Weibo king and Weibo queen, respectively. In other significant categories, Bai Lu, Liu Yuning, Leo Luo and Wang Hedi were recognized with the Weibo annual popular actor award, while Xiao Zhan, Ma Li, Song Jia and Zhang Ruoyun won the annual influential actor award. 

Li Bingbing and Tang Wei receive accolades as internationally influential actors, while Li Yuchun is honored as an internationally influential musician at the 2024 Weibo Night in Beijing, Jan. 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

Meanwhile, Wang Sulong, Rainie Yang, Kelly Yu, Tia Ray and Zhang Bichen were celebrated as Weibo annual musicians. Additionally, Li Bingbing and Tang Wei received accolades as internationally influential actors, while Li Yuchun was honored as an internationally influential musician.

China's most prominent filmmaker, Zhang Yimou, received the title of most internationally influential director of the year at the event. In his acceptance speech, Zhang urged fellow filmmakers to strive for greater recognition of Chinese cinema and culture on the world stage and to pursue significant global influence.

His blockbuster legal drama, "Article 20," along with "Successor" and "The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death," was designated as one of Weibo's annual movies, reflecting the ongoing discussions among users. The popular series "Escape from the Trilateral Slopes," "We Are Criminal Police," "Romance in the Alley," and "Joy of Life 2" were recognized as Weibo's annual series.

Clockwise from top: The cast and crew of "Ne Zha 2," "Detective Chinatown 1900," "Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force," "Boonie Bears: Future Reborn," and "Legends of the Condor Heroes:The Gallants" are on stage promoting these films at the 2024 Weibo Night in Beijing, Jan. 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

The event also highlighted upcoming projects, including "Ne Zha 2," "Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants," "Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force," "Detective Chinatown 1900," and "Boonie Bears: Future Reborn," which were named Weibo's most anticipated movies for the upcoming Spring Festival. The cast and crew of these films took the stage to promote their works, aiming to enhance the visibility of this key film season.

For years, the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo has played a crucial role in marketing films and entertainment projects, helping to promote cultural works and fuel the growth of a new cultural ecosystem.

Filmmaker Zhang Yimou, as the award presenter, poses on stage at the 2024 Weibo Night in Beijing with Xiao Zhan, Ma Li, Song Jia and Zhang Ruoyun, who receive the annual influential actor awards on Jan. 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

Weibo serves as a news feed and public opinion forum that leverages social media's broad influence to spotlight pressing social issues and breaking news. 

At the 2024 Weibo Night, China's burgeoning aerospace industry was highlighted as it continued to explore new frontiers in the universe. Notably, the Chang'e-6 mission, which achieved the world's first lunar far-side sample return, was honored as the Weibo annual influential event. Additionally, China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which completed its first sea trials in May 2024 and is the country's first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, also received this honor.

The 2024 Paris Olympics marked a significant event, with China's athletes excelling and receiving widespread acclaim. The Chinese table tennis team, featuring stars like Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Wang Chuqin, was named Weibo's annual model sports team. Athletes such as Ni Xialian, Zhang Boheng, Zhou Guanyu, Wang Shun, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong were recognized for their outstanding sportsmanship. Throughout the Olympics, athletes engaged with fans on Weibo, using the platform to enhance interactions and foster national pride, promoting the growth of sports in the process.

American rock band OneRepublic performs their hit "Counting Stars" at the 2024 Weibo Night in Beijing, Jan. 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

Esports competitions also garnered attention, with players like Yang Tao from "Honor of Kings" and Chen Zebin from "League of Legends" recognized as Weibo's influential e-sports players of the year.

China's first 3A game, "Black Myth: Wukong," has become an international sensation since its release, elevating Chinese game production to global acclaim and promoting Chinese culture, earning it the title of Weibo's annual innovative breakthrough influential event. The operating system HarmonyOS NEXT also received this honor.

Chinese traditional cultural influencer Li Ziqi receives the annual cultural influencer award at the 2024 Weibo Night in Beijing, Jan. 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Weibo]

After a three-year hiatus, renowned influencer of traditional Chinese culture Li Ziqi, known for her serene and meticulously crafted videos, made a triumphant return to the digital world on Nov. 12 last year, generating widespread excitement on social media. Consequently, Li was honored as cultural influencer of the year.

"Protecting and passing down traditional culture requires a collective effort," Li said. "A single star, no matter how bright, is just a star, but a sky full of stars forms a galaxy, a universe. I urge all friends to join in the protection and inheritance of traditional culture."

The star-studded Weibo Night gala attracted 1.8 billion views during its live broadcast on the official Weibo account, along with extensive discussions, trending topics, hashtags, and additional buzz on other social media platforms.

Organizers stated that the 2024 Weibo Night is not only a comprehensive annual celebration that spans all fields but also reflects the current zeitgeist. "On the stage of Weibo Night, every dream deserves to be illuminated, and every effort deserves to be remembered," they said.

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