In April 2026, Suqian, the youngest city in Jiangsu Province, burst into the national spotlight, putting this northern Jiangsu town firmly on the map. The occasion was the 2026 Jiangsu Super League (Su Chao) football tournament, where Suqian’s team stunned the defending champions Nanjing with a 2-0 victory. Previously, Suqian had suffered heavy defeats—losing 0-3 and 0-4 against Nanjing, conceding a total of seven goals. This time, they finally turned the tables.
Suqian’s success wasn’t just on the pitch. The city is known as the hometown of Xiang Yu, the legendary “Hegemon-King of Western Chu” from Chinese history. To capitalize on this cultural heritage, the city invited actor He Rundong, who famously portrayed Xiang Yu in the 2012 hit TV series *The Legend of Chu and Han*, to appear at the Su Chao match.
**The Origin of the 2026 Su Chao**
The 2026 Jiangsu Super League attracted nationwide attention. Suqian’s team emblem was designed as the “Hegemon-King of Western Chu,” paying homage to Xiang Yu. Fans and netizens soon called for He Rundong to make a live appearance at Suqian’s home ground. The local government listened and successfully secured his participation.
**He Rundong Takes the Su Chao Stadium by Storm**
On April 18, 2026, at 19:40, as the match between Suqian and Nanjing kicked off, He Rundong made a dramatic entrance—a real-life “return of the king.” Riding a war chariot, he circled the field, igniting the passion of nearly 30,000 spectators. The pre-match performance, titled “Return of the King: Ignite Suqian,” featured He Rundong fully costumed as Xiang Yu, complete with a war chariot, battle drums, and horses. The crowd roared along, their energy electric.
Notably, He Rundong wore the exact same armor used in *The Legend of Chu and Han*, carrying a long halberd as he stood proudly on the chariot, exuding the majesty of the ancient king.
To everyone’s surprise, Suqian went on to beat Nanjing 2-0. Netizens quickly declared that “the king was worth the invitation.”
**He Rundong’s Unexpected Viral Fame**
Taiwanese actor He Rundong suddenly became a hot topic across China purely because of his appearance at this football match. He gained millions of new fans, topped trending lists, and landed five commercial endorsements, including brands like Yanghe and JD.com. The “4·18 He Rundong at Su Chao” incident has become a phenomenon.
Much of the online discussion attributes his resurgence to his professional dedication and a return to classic aesthetics in Chinese entertainment. However, a deeper analysis reveals that the real driving force is the power of cultural IP.
In this event, Suqian successfully combined its local historical heritage—the story of Xiang Yu—with the televised portrayal of the character, the Su Chao football league, and star appeal, all orchestrated to perfection. The armor He Rundong wore was even a rush replica made specifically for the event, identical to the one in the drama. Attention to detail was key.
Another crucial factor was the mobilization of public enthusiasm. On site, He Rundong’s voice boomed, “I am Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu! I am back!” The crowd, over ten thousand strong, roared back: “The king returns! The king returns!” When the chariot passed the stands, he asked, “Where are the sons of Suqian?” The answer came in unison: “Here! Here! Here!” It was a powerful expression of local identity and pride.
“Victory depends on determination and courage. We, the men of Suqian, never lack determination and courage. Suqian is our home ground, what do we have to fear?” He declared. The crowd responded with chants of “Fight! Fight! Fight!” and “We Suqian men are second to none!”
This grassroots energy and collective support transformed the event into a masterclass in city branding.