Actress Zhu Yuanyuan Photo: Snapshot from the video released by doctor Liu Haiying from the Department of Spine Surgery at Peking University People's Hospital

Renowned Chinese actress Zhu Yuanyuan is mourned by many after her husband, actor Xin Baiqing on Wednesday announced her passing at the age of 51 following a fight against cancer that lasted for half a decade via an obituary.

"During her nearly five-year battle with cancer, she had never been pessimistic or depressed. Instead, she had faced difficulties with firm resolve and confidence, and conveyed her love for life to everyone around her through laughter and warmth," reads the obituary.

On Thursday, photos of Zhu receiving treatment in hospital for cancer battle went viral online, showing her wearing a warm smile despite a sallow complexion. They were posted on Wednesday by doctor Liu Haiying from the Department of Spine Surgery at Peking University People's Hospital on social media platform.

“I’ve known Yuanyuan and her husband for over a decade. She was beautiful, kind and truly a good person in every sense,” Liu wrote in the post. He added that Zhu had volunteered multiple times as a host for charity galas organized by the Beijing Haiying Spine Health Foundation, never accepting any payment and quietly donating hundreds of thousands of yuan.

According to Liu, even after her diagnosis, Zhu remained to be hopeful for a miracle and a speedy recovery, making plans to reunite with friends. 

“The last time I spoke with her was when she was in Hong Kong. She was already very weak and coughed severely. It was so heartbreaking to hear and I told her she must take good care of herself,” Tian Qinxin, director of the National Theatre of China, told media on Wednesday in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province.

Tian mentioned that Zhu’s body had been cremated. “I couldn't stop feeling distressed. What I remember most is her smile. I loved listening to her talk. She always lit up the room. Now, such a beautiful and lively soul has vanished from this world,” Tian said.

The National Theatre of China issued an obituary and a biography on Wednesday to mourn the actress. Tian said she personally revised the obituary and wrote her biography, which reads “The long river flows without end; the mountains are veiled in layers of cloud, yet our thoughts of you remain. Let us, in the name of art, pay the highest tribute to the performing artist who lit up the stage with her life. May Comrade Zhu Yuanyuan’s artistic legacy live on in the hearts of her audience, and may her artistic spirit endure in the great current of Chinese theatre.”

Zhu’s final post on Weibo was published on May 1, promoting her recently completed TV series The City Maker. Huang Xiaoming, an actor who co-stars in the series, said Zhu remained strong and optimistic throughout the filming. 

“She never even mentioned her battle with cancer—she always faced everything with a smile!” Huang said.

A number of Chinese actors and actresses, including Ma Yili, Feng Yuanzheng, Luo Haiqiong, Yao Chen, Qin Hailu and Liang Guanhua, have posted tribute and remembrance messages on social media platforms.

In April 2024, Zhu attended the Global Times' second "My Reading Life" book-sharing event as a key speaker, impressing those in attendance with her erudite speech, demure bearing and her smile. Her demeanor showed no indication of her battle with cancer; instead, attendees saw only her passion for reading and acting. This positivity aligns with her husband’s description in the obituary, noting that Zhu faced life’s challenges with "unwavering confidence."