NieYuan was born on March 17, 1978 in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, with his ancestral home in Shandong. He’s a mainland Chinese film and television actor, who graduated from the undergraduate program of the Acting Department of Shanghai Theatre Academy in 2000. In 2001, he played the lead role in the period drama "Wrong Carriage, Right Groom" which became popular and he gained widespread attention as a result. In 2002, the historical drama "Tian Xia Liang Cang" he participated in was broadcasted, in which he played the role of the young Qianlong Emperor. In 2004, he won the “Top 10 Actors Award” at the 5th "Chinese TV Arts’ Double Top 10" for his performance in "Han Bao Xue Ma". In 2006, he played the male lead role of Hu Fei in "Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain". In 2011, he played Tang Sanzang in Zhang Jizhong's version of "Journey to the West" and won Most Popular Male Actor at the College Student TV Festival. In 2011, he played the role of Chen Zhi in the 90th anniversary revolutionary epic drama "Ge Ming Ren Yong Yuan Shi Nian Qing". In 2013, he played Zhao Huai'an in the TV version of "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate". In 2012, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 3rd Macao International Film Festival for his role in the film "The Lost Bladesman", and in 2014, he played the role of Zhao Jingzhong in the film "Brotherhood of Blades". In 2015, he starred in the TV drama "Da Yu’er Chuan Qi". In 2016, he starred in the film "96 Hours" and the feature film "Zhui Zhong". In July 2018, his lead role in the period drama "Story of Yanxi Palace" was broadcasted on iQIYI, and he once again played the role of Qianlong Emperor. On September 13th, he starred in the 3D tomb raiding film "Phantom from the Deep". In 2020, the realism themed drama "Knock on the Happiness Door" he appeared in was broadcasted on Jiangsu TV and Zhejiang TV. The poverty alleviation themed public welfare documentary program "Wen Nuan You Guang Fang Ying Dui" he participated in was broadcasted on CCTV-6. On May 25, 2021, the major revolutionary historical drama "Dreams and Glory" he appeared in was broadcasted. With regards to his personal life, on September 28, 2008, he married his fellow junior Wang Hui and they held a grand wedding in Beijing. On April 15, 2012, his agent confirmed to the media that the two had already divorced. On May 8, 2014 at 11:35a.m., Nie Yuan's wife Qin Ziyue gave birth to a daughter nicknamed Tian Tian.