Arzen Rose Dulzura

Chinese actor Xu Peng now sells vegetables as AI takes over China's short-drama industry

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

Chinese actor Xu Peng has temporarily stepped away from the entertainment industry and is now helping sell vegetables at a local market after the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) significantly affected his acting career. According to reports from several international media outlets, including CNA Lifestyle and The Straits Times, the actor returned to his hometown to earn a living after opportunities in China&#x27;s short-drama industry began to decrease.A graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, Peng first built his career through television series before finding success in China&#x27;s booming short-drama scene. With overwhelming demand from fans, he shifted to micro-dramas in 2025 during its growth in the country, where he became known for portraying the stereotypical domineering CEO. The move proved successful, with his performances earning him a steady stream of lead roles. At the height of his career, Peng reportedly spent 15 to 16 hours a day on set as his filming schedule became fully booked. However, the industry&#x27;s landscape changed rapidly with the growing use of AI-generated productions. After wrapping up what became his last short drama earlier this year, Peng left Hengdian in Zhejiang Province, widely regarded as the center of China&#x27;s film and television industry, and returned to his family&#x27;s home in rural Shandong. These days, he helps his family by driving their electric vehicle to the local market, where he sells vegetables grown by his grandfather. <div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17837414127031783741568668.png" style="width:660px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div>Although some relatives and friends were initially surprised by his decision to leave acting, Peng said he has no regrets about choosing honest work. “Being an actor is just a profession. If there are no acting jobs, I’ll find another way to make a living. As long as I earn an honest living through my own hard work, there’s no obstacle I can’t overcome,” he said, as cited by CNA Lifestyle. “Even if my profession changes, I’m still the same person,” he added.Photos and videos of Peng working at the market have since gone viral on social media, with many netizens praising his humility, resilience, and willingness to work hard despite his former on-screen success. Peng&#x27;s experience comes as China&#x27;s short-drama industry undergoes a major transformation. Reports noted that top actors in the genre once earned as much as 20,000 yuan (around ₱181,000) per day, but many now reportedly struggle to secure projects paying even 1,200 yuan (around ₱10,900) per day.  Despite the industry&#x27;s shift, Peng has no plans to completely give up acting. He hopes to launch an acting training program while continuing to create live-action short dramas, determined to keep pursuing his passion for performing.

Chinese actor Xu Peng now sells vegetables at a local market after the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation of Chinese short dramas affected his acting career.

Chinese actor Xu Peng now sells vegetables at a local market after the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation of Chinese short dramas affected his acting career.