Renowned Chinese film actress Xie Fang passes away at 89

Renowned Chinese film actress Xie Fang, who portrayed Lin Daojing in the film The Song of Youth, passed away at 2:14 am on Thursday in Beijing at the age of 89, the Beijing Daily reported.

Born as Xie Huaifu on November 1, 1935, in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, Xie began her artistic journey at the young age of 18 with the Central South Art Troupe in 1951. She quickly rose to prominence as the lead in operas such as Liu Sanjie and The White-Haired Girl, which laid the groundwork for her later career in cinema. 

Xie went on to star in over 50 films and television dramas, including Princess Wencheng, becoming a household name and a beloved film star across China. In 1962, she was selected as one of the "22 great film stars of China."

In recognition of her lifetime contribution to the film industry, Xie was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 33rd Hundred Flowers Awards in 2016.