A man from Anhui, China has gone viral online because of his striking resemblance to the 'Last Emperor Puyi.' Even AI facial recognition mistook his photo for Puyi himself, earning him millions of likes and landing him on trending lists.
As his popularity surged, Hengdian World Studios proactively reached out, inviting him to participate in historical dramas or micro-short dramas, with plans for him to play Puyi or related roles.
According to comprehensive Chinese media reports, the man's real name is Fu Qiang, born in 1996, and he has previously worked in real estate sales, as a chef, and in other professions. He revealed that since his teens, people have often remarked on his resemblance to Puyi, which initially made him feel troubled. When short video platforms first became popular, many suggested he could make a living off his 'looks.' However, Fu Qiang said, 'I am an introverted person, shy about showing my face, and rarely post even in my friendship circle.'
In 2024, a video he filmed at the Forbidden City unexpectedly went viral, with Chinese netizens marveling at the 'time travel' effect. Despite initial controversies over his image—such as negative comments online calling him a 'Qing Dynasty remnant'—he chose to focus on content creation, planning to use this image to delve into historical details.
Just how much does Fu Qiang resemble Puyi? He sent AI a photo of himself taken at the Temple of Heaven and asked who the person in the picture was, only to receive the answer, 'This is Puyi.' In the photo, Fu Qiang wears black round glasses and a Zhongshan suit.
After rising to fame, Fu Qiang adopted the nickname 'Little Puyi' and began fully engaging in self-media creation. By imitating Puyi's mannerisms, attire, and studying historical knowledge, he gained 626,000 followers on the social platform Douyin.
Fu Qiang has yet to sign with a management team; all videos are filmed and edited independently, and his financial situation is 'decent.' He plans to first experience filming, but hopes to move beyond the label of appearance, using the Puyi image to deeply present historical details, rather than just for entertainment.
In his videos, many passersby are amazed: 'Isn't this Puyi?' 'Greetings, Your Majesty,' 'Woke up and saw the emperor.' Many netizens describe him as 'blessed by heaven with a gift.'