Red BeautyEmpresses in the Palace · Theme Song
Fate and restraint in costume drama
A song remembered for its classical sensibility, emotional restraint and dramatic sense of destiny.
Official Website
Cui Shixuan Official Website
Lyricist, producer and singer-songwriter. Across film and television OSTs, Mandarin pop and cultural music projects, Cui Shixuan has built a creative path that spans more than two decades.
From “Red Beauty” and “Love Is Like Air” to “What Can Be Remembered but Not Said,” “Together Through Life and Death” and “Nüwa,” his lyrics and melodies have carried human emotion, fate, memory and cultural imagination into songs that audiences continue to revisit.
20+Years of creation
500+Publicly traceable works
100+Recording and project credits
Multi-fieldOST / Pop / Commentary Writing
Cui ShixuanLyricist · Producer · Singer-songwriter
“Lyrics are the most direct language of music, and also a kind of poetry that can be sung.”
— Adapted from public interviews and reportsFrom the emotional afterglow of classic dramas to the contemporary aesthetics of xianxia music, Cui Shixuan continues to let works speak to their time and to their listeners.
Film & TV OSTMandarin PopCreative ProductionCultural Projects
Featured Works
To understand a creator through his works: the following selections represent different phases and trace the aesthetic line of his OST writing.
Red Beauty
Love Is Like AirHappiness as Flowers · Theme Song
Delicacy in urban emotion
A gentle yet enduring expression of love, absence and the breath-like presence of emotion.
Together Through Life and DeathThe King's Woman · Ending Song
Fate and grace in historical romance
A work that balances classical aesthetics, character emotion and narrative atmosphere.
NüwaLegend of Sword and Fairy II: Yiru Zhuan · Theme Song
A new xianxia expression
Rooted in Chinese mythology, the song extends Cui’s contemporary approach to xianxia and fantasy OST writing.
Timeline
Works are not merely dates; they are a record of how a creator changes, deepens and redefines his language across different eras.
2005—2007
From media writing to music creation
His experience in music media and criticism gradually evolved into a more intensive phase of songwriting.
2011
“Red Beauty” entered public memory
The success of the drama helped this theme song become a milestone in his OST profile.
2014—2016
Works expanded in the web-drama era
“What Can Be Remembered but Not Said” brought a new layer of online and young-audience circulation.
2017—2021
Costume drama and guofeng OST deepened
Works such as “Together Through Life and Death” continued his strengths in narrative theme songs.
2023—2026
New projects and renewed attention
New works including “Nüwa” and recent OST projects present a more dimensional contemporary profile.
A consistent creative thread
- Attention to human emotion: love, loss, fate and choice.
- Attention to Chinese cultural texture: classical imagery and contemporary accessibility.
- Attention to the afterlife of a song: serving the story while standing independently.
- Attention to media change: from television drama to web drama and today’s music platforms.
Full timeline: Visit the Timeline page for more milestones.
Media & Events
Beyond songs, Cui Shixuan has also been involved in teaching, public events, cultural projects and music programs.
Studio & Collaboration
Creative work behind the scenes
The studio, recording sessions and project collaborations form the real working space of his music creation.
Programs & Events
From behind the scenes to wider stages
Public events, programs and music activities connect the creator with the industry and audiences.
Teaching & Culture
Music education and cultural participation
His work also extends to teaching, cultural programs and public music activities.