LayarHijau.com – The prestigious 30th Magnolia Awards, part of the Shanghai TV Festival, officially concluded on June 27, 2025. During the highly anticipated ceremony, actor Jin Dong and actress Song Jia took home the top prizes for Best Actor and Best Actress, while the drama To the Wonder (我的阿勒泰) stood out as the night’s biggest winner with three major awards.
Jin Dong earned the Best Actor title for his performance in Northwest Years (西北岁月), surpassing other strong contenders such as Wang Baoqiang (The Chessmaster / 棋士), Wang Xiao (Song of Ordinary People / 凡人歌), Yu Hewei (We Are Criminal Police / 我是刑警), and Zhang Ruoyun (Joy of Life Season 2 / 庆余年第二季).
In his acceptance speech, Jin Dong expressed his heartfelt gratitude. “As far as I can remember, I have never won a Best Actor award for a TV drama. At the 30th Magnolia Awards, I’m truly honored to receive this. Playing a great revolutionary figure has been the privilege of a lifetime,” he said, as quoted by Sohu.
Meanwhile, Song Jia was awarded Best Actress for her portrayal of real-life educator Zhang Guimei in She and Her Girls (山花烂漫时). She competed against Liu Yifei (The Tale of Rose / 玫瑰的故事), Ma Yili (To the Wonder / 我的阿勒泰), Yan Ni (Romance in the Alley / 小巷人家), and Yang Zi (Flourished Peony / 国色芳华).
She and Her Girls received widespread acclaim for its powerful real-life narrative and achieved an impressive Douban rating of 9.6. In her speech, Song Jia emphasized the strength and conviction she absorbed from the character she portrayed.
“Thank you to all the incredible female creators nominated this year. We shine through our work. We stand here not because we’re young or pretty, not because we balance career and family well, but because we have the power to create roles and stories that truly move people,” she said.
Although they did not win in their acting categories, both Zhang Ruoyun and Yang Zi garnered attention as they were honored as International Promotion Ambassadors for Chinese TV. Joy of Life Season 2 (庆余年第二季), led by Zhang, achieved a staggering 45.1 billion effective views, making it the most-watched series of 2024. Yang Zi continued her streak of recognition after a previous nomination for Lost You Forever (长相思).
In the supporting categories, Jiang Qiming was named Best Supporting Actor for his role in Escape from the Trilateral Slopes (边水往事), while Jiang Xin received Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Romance in the Alley (小巷人家). This marked Jiang Xin’s first win at the Magnolia Awards, following two prior nominations.
The undeniable highlight of the evening, however, was To the Wonder (我的阿勒泰). Starring Ma Yili, the drama captured three trophies: Best Chinese TV Series, Best Cinematography, and the International Communication Award. Based on author Li Juan’s memoirs, the series offers a poetic and humanistic visual portrayal of Xinjiang’s natural beauty and the lives of ethnic minorities.
Other nominated series included Playing Go (棋士), Song of Ordinary People (凡人歌), We Are Criminal Police (我是刑警), City of the City (城中之城), and Me and My Family (180天重启计划). The recognition of these titles further reflects the expanding global presence of Chinese dramas.
The 2025 Magnolia Awards not only celebrated outstanding talent but also highlighted the evolving quality and international ambitions of Chinese television content, driven by storytelling with cultural depth and global relevance.