For fans of Chinese martial arts films, Jet Li is a household name. Born in 1963, he was the number one kung fu film star, known for his exceptional martial arts skills and heroic screen presence.
To the Chinese audience, Jet Li symbolizes traditional martial arts in cinema. He was even crowned “The King of Martial Arts” and was regarded as the leader of the “Four Great Diamonds” of martial arts cinema, alongside Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen and Wu Jing.
However, in recent years, Jet Li has stepped away from the limelight, living a reclusive life. He no longer acts in films and rarely appears at entertainment events. His last movie role was a supporting part in Disney’s 2020 live-action “Mulan”, where he played a minor character alongside Liu Yifei.
Although he has withdrawn from the screen to focus on his health, spend time with his family and practice Buddhism, Jet Li occasionally appears with his wife and two daughters or attends gatherings with old friends in the entertainment industry.
A few days ago, a short video surfaced online showing Jet Li at Mount Wutai in Shanxi, China. In the clip, the “King of Martial Arts” is dressed in black, wearing a cap, appearing simple and low-profile. He was seen leaving a temple alone, with no sign of his wife or daughters. As he walked down the stairs, his steps were unsteady, and he appeared to stumble slightly. His face and body looked rounder, and he even had a visible belly.
After the clip spread, many fans expressed concern about Jet Li’s health. Comments flooded in, “It looks like he’s struggling to walk down the stairs“, “Jet Li is now an old man“, “His legs are no longer as agile as before“, “Action stars and athletes age quickly because of years of overtraining“…
However, some netizens pointed out that it is natural for a man in his 60s to experience declining health and slower movement.
In his youth, Jet Li pushed his body to the extreme, intensely training in martial arts and physical conditioning, which caused severe long-term damage to his body. Currently, he still requires medication for hyperthyroidism, along with treatment for joint injuries, including ankle, wrist and spine pain. His heart condition, worsened by hyperthyroidism, puts him at risk, prompting him to prepare his wife and children for the possibility of his passing.
At 62, Jet Li dedicates his time to Buddhist studies and meditation retreats across various locations. Due to his long absence from public life, he has often been the subject of false death rumors, leading to awkward situations.
Jet Li recounted humorously, “When I was traveling in Tibet, a monk specially gifted me a ‘Longevity Buddha’ statue. He told me, ‘The whole world says your health is failing. We were very worried, so we decided to give you this statue.’”
A few years ago, some photos of Jet Li looking frail and aged like an 80-year-old man shocked fans. To reassure the public, he later explained that the images were taken during his meditation and martial arts philosophy discussions in Tibet.
In 2023, during a book-sharing event in Taiwan, Jet Li confirmed that his health is still stable.