Zhang Jinlai, whose stage name is Liu Xiao Ling Tong, is a Chinese actor starred as the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) in the 1986 TV adaptation of Journey to the West, one of the four Chinese classic novels.

Zhang was born on April 12, 1959 in a family of performing artists, who were specialized in playing the role of the Monkey King. Zhang carried forward his father, Zhang Zongyi’s stage name Liu Ling Tong and developed it into Liu Xiao Ling Tong.

After graduating from high school in 1976, Zhang entered Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe and majored in playing martial roles. 

He tried very hard and got the chance to play the Monkey King in the TV series of Journey to the West, which brought him international fame.

His compelling performance, which was greatly praised by critics, helped him win the Best Actor award at the sixthGolden Eagle Awards in 1988.On Sept 27, 2006, he was conferred the Certificate of Mouthpiece of the 3rd International Forum on China Cultural Industry.

In recent years, Zhang has made great efforts in promoting the Monkey culture, which contributed to the ancient Chinese myths novel and its hero winning popularity across the world.