Unveiling the Strength: Tian Xiwei’s Muscular Transformation in ‘Chuku: Seeking the Jade’
Daniel Kim Views
Tian Shiwei (Jeon Hee‑mi, 28), the heroine of the Chinese drama Zhu Yu (逐玉): In Search of the Jade, has been turning heads with noticeably toned arm muscles. Viewers were particularly intrigued because her character in the series is a powerful, formidable woman.
On the 12th, photos Jeon shared on Instagram and Weibo drew fans’ attention for a different reason: the images captured surprisingly solid shoulders and arm muscles that contrast with her cute, charming features.
A photo that surprised fans with her toned arms and shoulders 「Photo: Jeon Hee‑mi/Weibo」
Her shoulders and arms stand out even in casual, everyday shots 「Photo: Jeon Hee‑mi/Instagram」
Jeon has previously flipped expectations on variety shows by showing off surprising strength — one memorable moment showed her sawing wood with her arms exposed. Though she often projects a delicate, slender image, she handles ball sports like basketball and tennis as well as outdoor activities such as surfing and skateboarding with ease, demonstrating notable athletic ability.
In Zhu Yu: In Search of the Jade, Jeon portrays Ban Zhangyu, a fighter who rises to the rank of general. In episode one — which introduces her meeting with Zhang Linghe (Zhang Linghe, 28) — she’s depicted effortlessly hoisting a pig, leaving even the men stunned. The character is modeled on Jin Yangyu, the only female general recorded in the late Ming histories, and production sources say the team had Jeon in mind early on because they knew about her hidden strength.
A posed Instagram shot of her in a dress also caught fans’ attention. 「Photo: Jeon Hee‑mi/Instagram」
The Zhu Yu production team reportedly picked Jeon early for the role of Ban Zhangyu — a character who pairs delicate looks with considerable strength. 「Photo: iQIYI」
Living up to those expectations, Jeon carried out several impactful action scenes in Zhu Yu without relying on slow motion or stunt doubles. Fans praised her lean, well-conditioned physique and hailed her professionalism, suggesting she undertook rigorous physical training for the role.
Meanwhile, Jeon wrapped filming early this month on the new drama Jia Jin Chai (嫁金钗), in which she takes on dual roles for the first time; production wrapped on the 4th, ahead of schedule, setting up an earlier return to fans. She also has upcoming projects Qin Ze Ji (擒贼记) and Tian Cai You (天才女友) lined up.
Seo Ji‑woo, Reporter zeewoo@sputnik.kr
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