"I think most people's resistance to people with HIV and AIDS is due to their ignorance of the disease. The virus cannot be passed on by casual contact. You cannot catch or spread the virus from hugging someone or eating with them," he says.

Over the past three years, Wang has participated in a number of charity events, including visiting malaria-inflicted areas in Africa and has also spoken out against the dangers of smoking. This and his efforts to highlight the plight of endangered wildlife make him one of the foremost celebrities in the charity sector.

The actor, 26, received a China Youth New Power for Global Philanthropy award in Beijing recently. It was jointly presented by nine organizations, including UNESCO, the Nature Conservancy and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Co-winners are six other young celebrities: actor Wu Lei, singer Lai Kuan-lin, crosstalk performer Guo Qilin, actresses Guan Xiaotong, Zhang Zifeng and Shen Yue.

All of the seven were born in the 1990s, and have millions of fans on Sina Weibo, a barometer of popularity.