China actress Fan Bingbing rents Hong Kong flat for US$84,000 a month, setting media abuzz

Fan says she will split her time between Hong Kong and various locations, including Hollywood

Fan Bingbing’s decision to rent a super luxury property on The Peak has intensified speculation about her plans to settle in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo

Yating Yangin Beijing
Controversial Chinese actress Fan Bingbing has generated significant media buzz following her recent appearance at a Hong Kong event, fuelling speculation about her potential long-term residency in the city.

On November 28, Fan attended a brand event in Hong Kong, captivating netizens in a black gown that many likened to a “villainous queen”.

During the event, she revealed that she had filmed two movies this year, including the Hollywood film The Ice Road 2, starring Liam Neeson, and the Malaysian movie Mother Bhumi, where she plays a farmer who performs nighttime exorcisms for women.

Although she has not fully shed the extra pounds, she shared: “I gained about 6 to 6.5kg for the movie. I’ve lost most of it now by eating less and exercising hard.”

Expressing her enthusiasm for the Hong Kong film industry, she noted: “I am among the first batch of mainland actresses to come to Hong Kong to make films.”

Barker Road on The Peak is renowned for its luxurious residences, attracting super-rich individuals and prominent figures not just from Hong Kong and mainland China, but from around the globe. Photo: SCMP/Winson Wong
Barker Road on The Peak is renowned for its luxurious residences, attracting super-rich individuals and prominent figures not just from Hong Kong and mainland China, but from around the globe. Photo: SCMP/Winson Wong

Adding to the speculation about her future in the city, she has reportedly rented a super-luxury property on Barker Road on The Peak for about HK$650,000 (US$84,000) a month.

In response to inquiries about her plans, she stated that she would divide her time between Hong Kong and other locations, including Hollywood.

The 43-year-old actress was once one of China’s highest-earning stars and gained international recognition before a tax evasion scandal in May 2018.

Fan began her acting career in 1998 with her role as “Jin Suo” in the iconic TV drama My Fair Princess. She later made significant strides in the film industry, with influential roles in Buddha Mountain and I Am Not Madame Bovary, earning her Best Actress awards at the 23rd Tokyo International Film Festival and the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival.

Following the tax evasion scandal in 2018, Fan has focused on her international career, notably attending the Georges Hobeika Haute Couture show in Paris in June 2024. Photo: AFP
Following the tax evasion scandal in 2018, Fan has focused on her international career, notably attending the Georges Hobeika Haute Couture show in Paris in June 2024. Photo: AFP

Her stunning outfits, such as the dramatic “Dragon Robe” worn at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in 2010, further established her as a stand-out star at international film festivals.

In October 2018, Fan faced a hefty fine of about 884 million yuan (US$122 million) from Chinese tax authorities for overdue taxes and fines, which tarnished her career and public image.

Following this, she was banned from acting and producing films in China, leading to a significant reduction in her public presence and sparking widespread speculation about her future.

Since then, she has shifted her career focus internationally. In June, she was appointed as a tourism ambassador by Malaysia’s Melaka state, aiming to attract more Chinese tourists by leveraging her 63 million followers on Weibo.

Fan, now a tourism ambassador for the Malaysian state of Melaka, was recently spotted enjoying durians during her visit. Photo: Instagram/@bingbing_fan
Fan, now a tourism ambassador for the Malaysian state of Melaka, was recently spotted enjoying durians during her visit. Photo: Instagram/@bingbing_fan

Although Fan receives less coverage from Chinese mainstream media now, she remains a beloved figure on mainland social media, where fans are captivated by her red-carpet appearances.

One admirer commented: “I have to say, she really looks good, and no other actress can match her.”

Another echoed: “Every appearance of hers is uniquely refreshing. The mainland red carpets are already dead water. She is the pinnacle, and there’s no substitute.”

“But it’s a pity, the dominant radiance in her eyes is gone,” remarked a third.

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