Veteran Chinese actress Liu Xiaoqing recently opened up about her current hardships on the reality show A Journey of Blooming Flowers. At 74, she faces five ongoing lawsuits, has suffered financial losses due to theft, and has experienced betrayal from those closest to her.
During the show’s second episode, Liu Xiaoqing caused frustration among the cast by arriving two hours late for a scheduled trip. She later apologized, promising never to be late again. Back in her room, she confided in her fellow cast members about the real reason for her delay — her jewelry, which had been stored with an insurance company, had been stolen. In addition to dealing with this theft, she was also occupied with legal disputes. If things go wrong, she could lose all her properties, leaving her with nothing despite a lifetime of hard work in the film industry.
Rising from bankruptcy and financial traps
Liu Xiaoqing candidly admitted that she had gone bankrupt multiple times throughout her career. In the worst instance, she lost nearly all her properties and was forced to take on minor acting roles for as little as 50 yuan a day just to make ends meet.
She also recalled a painful experience where she signed a project deal with business partners, only to fall into an elaborate trap. The collaboration failed, and she lost a significant portion of her savings.
In another instance, she feared that keeping cash and jewelry at home was unsafe, so she hired security guards from a jewelry company to protect them. However, when she returned from a performance, she found the safe emptied.
Betrayal from those closest to her
Beyond financial misfortune, Liu Xiaoqing revealed that her family had treated her with unexpected cruelty. Despite living under the same roof, they never showed concern for her well-being or happiness. When she encountered difficulties, their indifference was even colder than that of strangers. Some family members even worked against her behind her back, causing harm instead of offering support.
Now, with both her parents and her beloved grandmother having passed away, Liu Xiaoqing described herself as feeling like an orphan in the world — alone and without family support.
A life of ups and downs: Her memoir Starting Over Without Fear
As one of the most resilient figures in Chinese entertainment, Liu Xiaoqing documented her tumultuous journey in her memoir, Starting Over Without Fear. She once shared with the media that writing the book was a difficult process, as it involved many real people and events, requiring careful consideration of every detail.
In the book, she indirectly referenced how she fell out of favor with former Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin, which led to a fabricated legal case against her. She described this period as her most painful memory — her company was shut down, her brother-in-law disappeared, plainclothes officers followed her whenever she left home, her phone was tapped, and at one point, she even attempted to flee the country but was intercepted.
In June 2002, Liu Xiaoqing was arrested for alleged tax evasion and spent 422 days in Qincheng Detention Center. By the end of that year, despite the case remaining unresolved, Jiang Zemin ordered the liquidation of all her properties, including those owned by her company, leaving her completely destitute. As a result of the case, Liu Xiaoqing was forced to pay more than 80 million yuan in penalties.
However, she emphasized in her memoir that what she revealed was merely the tip of the iceberg — there were things she simply could not write about.
Staying optimistic despite adversity
Despite enduring relentless hardships, Liu Xiaoqing remains remarkably composed and optimistic. In interviews, she has shared her philosophy of life: “I never stay angry for more than three minutes. In life, everything is trivial except for matters of life and death.” Her unwavering positivity has earned admiration from many online supporters.
Even at 74, Liu Xiaoqing continues to face challenges head-on, demonstrating resilience and an ability to navigate life’s storms with grace.
Translated by Joseph Wu
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