Chinese Actor Whose Growth Stopped at Age 9 in His 40s: "It's Actually an Advantage for Me"

"I can understand teenagers from an adult's perspective"
Gained recognition through roles in sitcoms and dramas

The story of a Chinese actor who has faced challenges due to halted childhood development has come to light.

According to the Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) on May 13, Hu Shang (40), who was born in Beijing, was born prematurely. This was because his mother suffered from malnutrition during pregnancy.

He stopped growing at around the age of nine, and his voice never changed, remaining that of a child. His height is less than 1.6 meters. Even after reaching adulthood, people he met for the first time often mistook him for a child and would frequently ask his age.

While the specific name of Hu Shang's condition has not been revealed, the media outlet explained that it is likely a consequence of congenital developmental delay caused by premature birth.

However, instead of being discouraged by his circumstances, Hu Shang devoted himself to acting with the support and encouragement of his family. He began to gain public recognition in 2005 by appearing in the popular family sitcom "Home with Kids."

At the time, Hu Shang was 19 years old, but he passionately played the role of an elementary school student alongside actors seven years younger than himself. In the show, his character referred to himself as a "kung fu master," but in reality, he was a student who helped push customers' backs in his parents' bathhouse. The sitcom became one of the most popular in China.

Building on the success of the drama, Hu Shang played the rebellious 14-year-old son Zhang Baojin in the 2006 TV drama "Stepfather." He also appeared in the popular historical drama "Zhang Guandong," portraying a young man who survived in a brutal gold mining village. In an interview with a Chinese entertainment media outlet, he said, "My youthful appearance could be seen as a disadvantage, but for me, it has been a rare advantage," adding, "Because I can understand teenage roles more deeply from an adult's perspective."

In 2013, Hu Shang married Zhao Yin, a high school classmate, but the two chose not to have children. After their wedding photos were released, some online users left malicious comments on the internet, such as "They look like mother and son" and "Isn't he marrying his mother?"

Despite such prejudice, Hu Shang has remained largely unfazed and continues to lead a quiet life with his wife, while still appearing in dramas and pursuing his acting career. In March, he appeared in the Chinese historical drama "Zhuan Qi Ye Hua," passionately playing a teenage soldier who runs into enemy lines carrying explosives.