Tan, known as CD, says his regular work-outs and the habit of not bathing late at night or early in the morning are the only secrets to his age-defying body and face. Oh, and a taste for spicy Hainanese chicken.
In reality, some awesome genetics are probably playing a major part too.
Alongside his ripped physique and baby-face charm, his hair is - enhanced or otherwise - raven black and he dresses like a man several decades younger.
Now a photographer, Tan occasionally models and was recently propelled back into the public eye after appearing on Saturday in an advert for Chinese news website Yidian Zixun.
His photography business, ChuanDo & Frey, has seen him shoot high-profile Asian celebrities including Rosamund Kwan and Shu Qi. He also shot Janet Jackson's 2008 album cover for Discipline.