Chinese actress Liu Xiaoqing reportedly has affair with man 20 years her junior

Chinese actress Liu Xiaoqing. Photo from Liu's Weibo

On Wednesday, topics such as "Liu Xiaoqing’s affair," "Liu Xiaoqing’s views on infidelity," and "Liu Xiaoqing’s profile photo" dominated the trending list on Weibo, amassing hundreds of millions of views and thousands of comments.

The surge of attention began after entertainment bloggers published an audio recording and screenshots of messages from 2015 between Liu and the photographer, whom they claim was her lover. At that time, Liu had been married for two years to businessman Wang Jiaoyu.

In the recordings, Liu is heard speaking affectionately to her supposed boyfriend, discussing everyday life, intimacy, and her frustrations with work as an actress.

On Weibo, thousands of comments poured in, with some users expressing that they were unsurprised by her private life, given her "varied romantic history." Others supported her, including a user named Wuli, who received over 24,000 likes for writing: "Why are women’s affairs always so criticized and sensationalized?"

"Liu Xiaoqing is beyond the era where public opinion can decide her fate, this probably doesn’t affect her," another user commented.

Many others argued that leaking the footage violated Liu’s privacy and called for the responsible parties to be penalized.

Meanwhile, a past interview between Liu and top Chinese TV host Yang Lan has resurfaced. In the interview, Yang asked Liu about the impact of her rumored 1980s affair with actor Jiang Wen. Liu responded: "It didn’t trouble me at all, just my husband."

Liu’s first marriage was in 1976 to musician Wang Li. Shortly after their wedding, she realized she had no deep feelings for him and often used work as an excuse to stay away from home. She filed for divorce in 1982.

Afterward, she became romantically involved with actor-director Chen Guoqin, who was married at the time, which led to her being labeled a "homewrecker." Liu and Chen eventually married.

In 1986, she met actor Jiang Wen while filming "Hibiscus Town," and the relationship led to her divorce from Chen. Liu and Jiang’s relationship ended in 1994.

In an interview with Beijing News, Liu admitted she was drawn to Jiang, saying: "Perhaps I betrayed Chen Guoqin to be with Jiang Wen, but that was a long time ago."

"I’m grateful to both Guoqin and Jiang Wen," she added. "They were two important men in my life."

Liu’s third husband was Sun Xiangguan, whom she met in 2001. Sun left his pregnant wife to be with Liu, but they separated in 2005.

In 2013, she entered her fourth marriage with Wang, who had admired her for 20 years before they finally wed. Liu told Mingpao Weekly: "My husband’s greatest strength is his deep love for me. Ironically, it’s also his biggest flaw."

In August, rumors circulated that Liu had divorced Wang, though she has not commented publicly.

Liu Xiaoqing is a renowned figure in Chinese cinema, celebrated for roles in "Wu Zetian," "Huoshao Efang Gong," "Huo Fenghuang," "Hibiscus Town," and "A Dream of Red Mansions."

At the peak of her career in 2002, she was investigated for business law violations and tax evasion, resulting in 442 days in prison. Despite this setback, Liu gradually reclaimed her position in the industry, showcasing her talent in both film and television. She remains active, frequently attending events and taking on new acting projects.