Actress Zhang Qing once captivated audiences with her stunning beauty as Princess Wan Sheng in the classic 1986 version of “Journey to the West.”
Princess Wan Sheng remains one of the memorable characters from the legendary drama. Although she only appeared briefly, her elegant visuals and graceful aura earned her recognition as one of the most beautiful actresses in the entire cast. The role was portrayed by Zhang Qing.
Her appearance in the 1986 adaptation of “Journey to the West” quickly turned Zhang Qing into a rising star. However, despite gaining fame through acting, she later stepped away from the entertainment industry to focus entirely on business, eventually becoming a highly successful billionaire entrepreneur.
At the time she filmed the drama, Zhang Qing was already a famous advertising model and talented dancer, though she had no prior acting experience.
According to QQ, director Yang Jie struggled to find the perfect actress for the role, which required beauty, elegance, and strong dancing skills. Eventually, a makeup artist recommended Zhang Qing, who was then working as a dancer for the Beijing Military Region Song and Dance Troupe and the Second Artillery Corps Performance Group. That unexpected opportunity completely changed her life and brought her to television screens nationwide.
Following her role as Princess Wan Sheng, Zhang Qing rapidly rose to fame and was often praised as the most beautiful actress in the cast. Chinese media even nicknamed her the “Modern Xi Shi,” referencing one of ancient China’s legendary beauties.
Despite finding success in entertainment, Zhang Qing chose a different path and entered the business world. In 1998, she established Guangzhou Jiaxing Advertising Co., Ltd., a company specializing in advertising. The company later changed its name to Jiahua Hengxing and is now headquartered in Beijing.
Beyond advertising, Zhang Qing also became a major figure in the fashion and garment industry. In 1991, after attending a large textile and fashion trade fair in Panama, she returned to China and became vice president of a garment corporation responsible for the South American market. She later launched her own fashion company and brand named Isa, building a fortune worth hundreds of millions of yuan while acquiring luxury real estate across China.
Her fashion brand reportedly collaborated with prestigious international events including the Cannes Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, and the Academy Awards. Zhang Qing also served as Vice President of the China Garment Group for the South American region. Thanks to her successful business ventures, she eventually became a billionaire.
In 2000, she was selected as one of Asia’s exemplary women. She also entered rankings of China’s wealthy elites and reportedly owns valuable real estate properties in major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen.
QQ once described her as “the queen of advertising and fashion,” alongside actress Qiu Peining, who famously played Chang’e in “Journey to the West.” Chinese media also referred to Zhang Qing as a “media queen” within the advertising and fashion industries.
Although her business career flourished, Zhang Qing’s personal life was not always smooth. She secretly married an overseas Chinese businessman and later lived abroad for a period of time. However, after 20 years of marriage, the couple divorced, and she reportedly gained custody of their child.
Since then, Zhang Qing has remained single and devoted herself to raising her child and managing her businesses. While she keeps her private life relatively low-profile, she occasionally shares cheerful daily moments and dance videos on social media.
Now approaching her 70s, Zhang Qing still maintains a youthful appearance and elegant presence. From time to time, she returns to acting projects to satisfy her lingering passion for performing while also actively participating in charity work.
When asked why she returned to filming despite relatively low appearance fees, Zhang Qing laughed and said, “I film because I miss it and because it’s fun.” She explained that although she always loved acting, family circumstances forced her to step away from the industry. Now that her child is grown, she finally has the freedom to pursue her long-held dream of being in the spotlight once again.
Sources: k14
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