Zhang Zi Yi is a Chinese model and actress. She was born in Beijing on February 9, 1979 and made her debut in the entertainment world in 1994, when she made her first appearance in a television commercial and in 1996 she made her debut as an actress. Since then, she has appeared in numerous films and a few television dramas, including “My Lucky Star” (2013) and “The Wasted Times” (2016).

Zhang Zi Yi

To celebrate China’s National Day, this four-part anthology highlights work by some of the country’s most talented directors. With settings ranging from the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1942 to the futuristic world of 2050, each director utilizes a different genre to present their own unique ideas of “home” and “country” while simultaneously paying homage to the dedication and sacrifice of those who have come before.

In Wu Jing’s “Windriders,” the commander of the Jizhong Cavalry Regiment, Ma Ren Xing (Wu Jing) must lead his unit into a brutal World War II battle, including his son, Ma Cheng Feng (Leo Wu). Moving away from battle and into a much more peaceful setting, Zhang Zi Yi’s “Poem” takes us to the 1960s, where hard-won technological breakthroughs change one family’s lives forever. Set in the late 1970s, Xu Zheng’s “Ad Man” is based on the true story of China’s first television advertisement. To wrap up the anthology, Shen Teng’s “Go Youth” tells the story of an emotionless bionic robot whose time traveling antics portray a bright hope for the future.

The third installment of the “National Day Celebration” trilogy, “My Country, My Parents” is a 2021 Chinese anthology drama film directed by Wu Jing, Zhang Zi Yi, Xu Zheng, and Shen Teng.

My Country, My Parents

Path of Life

Wang Xuan (Zhang Zi Yi), a 15-year-old noblewoman, becomes a political pawn when the power struggle between the royal family and their extended relatives intensifies, leading to her arranged marriage with low-born general Xiao Qi (Zhou Yi Wei). Thrust into a web of court intrigue, they form a powerful alliance, navigating fierce succession battles, palace conspiracies, and shifting loyalties. But as tensions rise, can they overcome the kingdom's political turmoil and safeguard their legacy from the shadows? Directed by Hou Yong and Cheng Yuan Hai, this 2021 Chinese drama series is adapted from the popular novel "Emperor's Conquest" by Mei Yu Zhe.

The Rebel Princess

The Emperor’s Conquests

Emperor Film Production, Huayi Brothers Pictures

During the turbulent times of the Sino-Japanese War and World War II, events unfold that will test loyalties and the endurance of the human spirit.

Lu (Ge You) is a ruthless Chinese mob boss whose alliance is tested when he is approached to collaborate with Japanese military occupiers. His brother-in-law, Watanabe (Tadanobu Asano), is a Japanese national who claims to be “Shanghainese” but is secretly working for the Japanese. Xiao Liu (Zhang Zi Yi) is a promiscuous actress and the wife of Lu’s boss. After an affair with her costar, Xiao Liu is sent out of the city by her husband. But when Lu assigns Watanabe to carry out the task, Watanabe ends up raping Xiao Liu and keeping her as a sex slave for years.

After the Japanese surrender in 1945, Lu finds Xiao Liu in a Shanghai hospice. They both decide they have unfinished business with Watanabe and decide to go search for him.

“The Wasted Times” is a 2016 Chinese-Hong Kong film directed by Cheng Er.

The Wasted Times

Xiao Liu

After reading about Japan in letters from her ex, Su Le Qi (Zhang Zi Yi) decided to explore the wonders of the country on her own. While there, she meets Feng Yu Jian (Eddie Peng), an apprentice chef who offers to show her around Hokkaido. What unexpected discovery Su Le Qi makes along the way will change her life forever.

A family vacation in Turkey sounds like a fantastic way for Tang Jing (Liang Jing) and Zhou Hong Yi (Zhang Yi) to spend time together. But when their five-year-old daughter gets lots in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, their dream vacation turns into a nightmare. As the couple frantically searches for their daughter, the underlying problems in their marriage begin to come to light. After dealing with such trauma, will their lives ever be the same?

Having married Lu Jie (Wang Qian Yuan) for a green card, Chicago resident Guan Yue (MoMo Wu) has spent her entire life without knowing true love. When she learns she hasn’t much time left, she convinces her husband to join her on a 2,300 mile trek along historic Route 66. Little does the couple know that this cross-country trip will have lasting effects on them both.

Working as a nurse in Norway, Lily (Michelle Chen) hasn’t been able to visit home in five years. Having settled comfortably in the town of Rjukan, Lily finds herself falling for Andrews (Sebastian Stiger), a local lawyer with a kind heart. When one of Lily’s patients makes a dying wish to see the sun amidst the perpetual darkness of Rjukan’s winter, Lily and Andrews decide to find a way to make this one last wish come true.

Living in Saipan, actress Ye Lan (Tong Li Ya) has tried desperately to escape the memories of her tragic past, but to no avail. When fate brings Bai Qie Zi (Zhou Dong Yu), a mysterious young woman with an uncanny knowledge of Ye Lan’s past, into her life, things take an unexpected turn. Will she take this opportunity to face her past or will she try to outrun it once again?

A collection of love stories from all walks of life, “Run For Love” is a 2016 romance anthology film directed by&nbsp;Zhang Yi Bai, Guan Hu, Zhang Meng, Teng Hua Tao, and Gao Qun Shu.

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