CCTV veteran host Sang Chen has been dedicated to his job for over thirty years. Coming from an artistic family, he’s low-key and down-to-earth, and has built his career in hosting purely through his own talent. His way of handling things is really admirable.
Sang Chen, a veteran host at China Central Television (CCTV) who had remained out of the public eye for more than 30 years, has only recently had her family background gradually come to light—a revelation that has come as quite a surprise to many in the industry.Viewers who have watched the program *Across the Strait* for
years are mostly already familiar with this host, who calmly addresses cross-strait issues on camera; few would associate her with a literary and artistic family with a solid revolutionary heritage.
In her early years,
Sang Chen aspired to a career in dance and was determined to apply to the Beijing Dance Academy. Ultimately, however, she fell short by a few centimeters in height and was unable to fulfill her dream, so she turned to the Beijing Broadcasting Institute instead, where she successfully passed the entrance exam and was admitted.On her very first day as an intern at CCTV, she was immediately immersed in the work environment of the broadcast studio, kicking off her practical journey in broadcasting and hosting. Unlike
many newcomers who simply read from prepared scripts when they first enter the industry, Sang Chen actively participated in behind-the-scenes work during her tenure, taking the initiative to follow up on everything from content planning to refining story concepts.For a documentary project on cross-strait family reunions, she led her team through nearly a year and a half of preparation and filming. The resulting production won numerous industry awards, so many that the certificates could barely fit in the display cabinets at the station.
Most of her longtime colleagues, who had worked
with her for over a decade, were previously unaware of her family background: both her grandparents were veteran professionals in China’s film and television industry; her maternal grandmother was one of the first 22 major film stars of the People’s Republic of China, and her maternal grandfather was a renowned and highly respected director in the industry.
During her more than 30 years working in the CCTV studio, Sang Chen never made a major on-air mistake. After work, she often wore jeans and a sweater and rode her bicycle home, leading a very modest lifestyle.Although there have been numerous unfounded rumors online regarding her husband’s identity, she has only publicly stated that her family life is stable and happy, and has never voluntarily disclosed any unnecessary details about her private life.
Despite
coming from a privileged family background, Sang Chen has never relied on it; instead, he has consistently excelled in his role for many years through his own professional competence. This down-to-earth and steady approach—unconcerned with fame or fortune—is truly rare in today’s industry environment.
I wonder if you’ve ever met someone like this who lives a grounded life through their own hard work.
