Almost a one-man army

[Photo provided to China Daily]

And it would be an understatement to call him the "star of the festival". He is not just the face, but one of the brains behind the festival.

He hosts the opening and closing ceremonies, joking that they cannot afford professionals. He sits on the five-person jury for the youth competition. He is on the chairman's committee and is a frequent guest on the forums. He gives numerous media interviews and goes to as many of the plays as possible.

When all the scheduled activities are over, he is found in Ripples, a bar named after the TV drama, mingling with theater lovers of every stripe.

Huang admits that he needs only a couple of hours of sleep each day. He just loves work.

Huang is a role model for multitasking. While he is known mostly for his drama series－h(huán)is string of hits are rolled out on an annual basis－h(huán)e has done movies and stage shows.

The current production of Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, starring Huang and his wife, Sun Li, as the lovebirds, is in its 10th year.

He has appeared in several reality TV shows, all massive hits, showcasing him as a father and a brainiac.

Other than that, he is a master chef and hosts a cooking show.

He is a professor with the famed Beijing Film Academy and he has a good singing voice, having released a few pop albums.

For those swooning over teenage heartthrobs, Huang used to possess pop-idol looks, which could have put the current roster to shame. OK, he is now middle-aged and is sometimes made fun of for his bulging waistline.