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Eating idol’s poems: inside the wild, ancient history of Chinese fan culture

China’s fandom culture predates today’s pop idols and live-streaming celebrities by millennia.
In ancient times, fame was cultivated in the streets, restaurants, and poetry circles, where…

By Samantha Johnson / May 26, 2026

China’s fandom culture predates today’s pop idols and live-streaming celebrities by millennia.

In ancient times, fame was cultivated in the streets, restaurants, and poetry circles, where beauty and talent transformed poets and performers into objects of public fascination.

One of China’s earliest heartthrobs was Pan Yue, a writer from the Western Jin dynasty (266–316), better known by his nickname, Pan An.

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Celebrated in the book, A New Account of the Tales of the World, for his striking good looks and refined demeanour, Pan became a cultural epitome of male beauty in Chinese society.

One of China’s earliest heartthrobs was writer Pan Yue, above, also known as Pan An, whose unwavering devotion to his wife further enhanced his romantic image. Photo: Baidu
One of China’s earliest heartthrobs was writer Pan Yue, above, also known as Pan An, whose unwavering devotion to his wife further enhanced his romantic image. Photo: Baidu

Legend has it that when he rode through the streets of Luoyang, female admirers would surround his carriage, showering him with fruit until it overflowed.

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His beauty was so renowned that, when he appeared alongside another handsome scholar, Xiahou Zhan, the pair were likened to two exquisite pieces of jade.

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