(CHEN LEI)

Chinese actor Wang Baoqiang was bestowed the Best Actor award at the 9th International Film Festival of Asian Pacific Countries in Vladivostok for his performance in Hello Mr. Tree, on September 16, 2011.

"I'm very excited and thrilled," said Wang. "This prize is a recognition for my acting."

Wang, 27, was born to a peasant family. He started practicing martial arts from the age of 6 and learned it in the Shaolin Temple from 8 to 14. At 16, Wang was chosen to star in the movie Blind Shaft and later won the Best New Actor award at the Taiwan Gold Horse Award in 2003 for his performance in the movie. In 2006, Wang was known to most Chinese for the smash hit TV series Soldiers Sortie. Wang's movie works include A World Without Thieves in 2004, Assembly in 2007, Little Big Soldier in 2010 and Lost on Journey in 2010.