In the first half of 2013, the famous writer and racing driver Han Han made a high-profile endorsement for CAMEL Camel Outdoor, then went relatively quiet for a while. But since August, Han Han seems to have reclaimed that bold, unconventional persona. Not only has he been sharing humorous and quirky posts on his personal Weibo account, his sharp remarks have had many fans exclaiming that Han Han is truly Han Han.
Recently, the popularity of the APP “ONE·Yige” he edited has yet to wane.In August, he also published the first volume of the paperback series “One: It’s Nice to Meet You,” with an initial print run of one million copies. Upon release, it quickly topped various bestseller lists. On the racing track, Han Han is also making waves—securing both first and second place in the last two rounds of the China Rally Championship. Meanwhile, in the China Touring Car Championship, although he lost the almost-certain second place at the Zhaoqing round due to car trouble, the scene of him and his teammate sweeping the top three spots in Chengdu remains fresh in memory.
Known for his bold personality and nonconformist style, Han Han, while achieving remarkable success in his professional fields, has also begun exploring new territories. Recently, it’s become quite evident that Han Han has been engaging more with films—could this be a sign that he’s preparing to step into the movie industry?
On September 18, 2013, the film adaptation of Han Han’s novel, “The Last Day of the City,” was released nationwide in cinemas. The film retained the dark humor of the novel, presenting a raw and incisive coming-of-age story. However, Han Han had the foresight to remove his own presence from the film, not participating in any promotional activities. Ultimately, the film became yet another example of critical acclaim but poor box office performance. It’s reported that another of Han Han’s major works, “Chang’an Chaos,” may begin filming within the year, which is the novel most eagerly anticipated for adaptation by readers. Whether Han Han will personally get involved remains to be seen.
Unlike the low-key approach of “The Last Day of the City,” Han Han’s voice acting for the DreamWorks animated film “Turbo” was far more prominent. In the film, Han Han provided the voice for the protagonist, Turbo. Full of enthusiasm, Han Han even rewrote some of the original lines, and posted a voice acting highlight reel on his Weibo. His speaking speed of over 100 words per minute was no less impressive than “Turbo” himself, earning him the nickname “the best voice actor in the Chinese racing circle.” Han Han even watched “Turbo” in a private screening on his birthday, showing his clear satisfaction with his debut voice acting work. Beyond voice acting, Han Han also wrote the lyrics for the theme song of the upcoming romantic film “I Want to Be With You.” The film announced that Han Han authorized the use of his work “Empty City Record” as the promotional lyrics, and according to Han Han, the lyrics were a perfect match for the film. Han Han’s recent frequent interactions with the film industry have people wondering—will the movie world soon welcome another talented young star?
Han Han’s recent surge in public appearances may be related to his good mood, which naturally stems from celebrating his 31st birthday. On his birthday, Han Han received warm wishes from his racing team, family, and fans across the country—both car enthusiasts and book lovers. The Weibo topic “Happy Birthday Han Han” garnered nearly 140,000 discussions. Additionally, his newly signed brand partner, CAMEL Camel, also sent birthday wishes.
The day before Han Han’s birthday was the CTCC China Touring Car Championship race day in Zhaoqing, Guangdong. As the host, CAMEL Camel sent staff to the Zhaoqing International Circuit early to cheer him on. On race day, Han Han started from second place in qualifying and maintained his position throughout, looking for opportunities to overtake the leader. Unfortunately, in the final lap, his No. 6 race car experienced a malfunction, costing him the chance at second place. However, the race loss didn’t dampen the birthday boy’s spirits. After the race, CAMEL Camel and its strategic partner, the Shanghai Volkswagen 333 Racing Team, prepared a surprise birthday celebration for Han Han. CAMEL Camel presented a carefully prepared birthday cake and an exquisite birthday card, and together with the team staff and other drivers, they sang “Happy Birthday” to celebrate Han Han’s special day.
Han Han has always been a pioneering figure of the post-80s generation, daring to take on various challenges. From writer to racing driver, he has often been surrounded by controversy—but that’s just Han Han. You never know what he’ll do next, but every “Han Han” moment brings plenty of surprises.