Faye Wong facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Faye Wong
王菲
Wong in 2011
Born	(1969-08-08) 8 August 1969 (age 56) Dongcheng, Beijing, China
Other names	Xia Lin
Citizenship	Chinese (Hong Kong)
Occupation	Singer-songwriter record producer actress
Years active	1989–2005 2010–present
Works	Discography
Spouse(s)	Dou Wei ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 1999)​ Li Yapeng ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2013)​
Partner(s)	Nicholas Tse (2000–2003, 2014–present)
Children	Leah Dou Li Yan
Musical career
Also known as	Shirley Wong (王靖雯)
Origin	Hong Kong
Genres	C-pop (both Mandopop and Cantopop) C-rock dream pop Buddhist music J-pop
Labels	Cinepoly EMI Sony Music
Chinese name
Chinese	王菲
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Fēi Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Wong4 Fei1 Hong Kong Romanisation Wong Fei
Stage name
Chinese	王靖雯
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Jìngwén Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Wong4 Zing6man4 Hong Kong Romanisation Wong Tsin-man
Birth name
Chinese	夏林
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xià Lín Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Haa6 Lam4 Hong Kong Romanisation Ha Lam

Faye Wong (Chinese: 王菲; pinyin: Wáng Fēi; born August 8, 1969) is a famous Chinese singer and actress. She is known for her unique voice and style. Early in her career, she was also known as Shirley Wong. Faye Wong was born in Beijing, China. When she was 18, she moved to Hong Kong.

She released her first album in 1989. Faye Wong became popular by mixing different music styles. She combined alternative music with mainstream Chinese pop. She sings mostly in Mandarin Chinese, but also in English and Japanese.

Faye Wong is one of the biggest pop stars in the Chinese-speaking world. She also has many fans in Japan and Southeast Asia. In other parts of the world, she is famous for her roles in movies like Chungking Express (1994) and 2046 (2004). She is often called a "diva" or "heavenly queen" in China. People know her for her "cool" personality.

In 2000, Guinness World Records recognized Faye Wong as the best-selling female Cantopop artist. She had sold about 9.7 million albums by March 2000. In 2009, she was voted the second most influential Chinese celebrity of the past 60 years. She received seven million votes in a poll.

Early Life and Beginnings

Faye Wong was born in Beijing, China, in 1969. Her father was an engineer. Her mother was a singer. Faye Wong had an older brother.

She went to primary school and middle school in Beijing. She was always involved in arts and culture. In 1987, she was accepted into Xiamen University to study biology. But she decided to move to Hong Kong instead.

Starting Her Music Journey

Even as a student, Faye Wong loved to sing. She released six cassette albums between 1985 and 1987. These albums mostly featured songs by her idol, Teresa Teng.

In 1987, she moved to Hong Kong to join her father. She didn't know Cantonese, the language spoken there. She felt lonely. She started taking singing lessons with Tai See-Chung, a famous teacher. He had taught many Hong Kong superstars.

With Tai's help, Faye Wong signed with Cinepoly Records in 1988. She won third place in a singing contest. This was a big step for her.

The Shirley Wong Years

In 1989, Cinepoly Records asked Faye Wong to use a new stage name. She chose "Shirley Wong." Her first album, Shirley Wong, sold well. She released two more albums, Everything and You're the Only One. These albums included many cover songs from the US and Japan.

In 1991, Faye Wong went to the United States for training. She spent about two months in New York. She took singing lessons and explored the city. This trip helped her find her own style. She realized she wanted to be more independent and rebellious, like she was before.

Music Career Highlights

Finding Her Own Sound

After returning from New York, Faye Wong released Coming Home in 1992. This album showed her new English name, "Faye." It also had a new R&B sound. This was different from her earlier music. The album included her first English song, "Kisses in the Wind."

One song from Coming Home, "Fragile Woman," became a huge hit. It was a cover of a Japanese song. This song was featured in a popular TV show. Its success made Faye Wong decide to stay in Hong Kong and continue her music career.

In 1993, she wrote the Mandarin lyrics for her song "No Regrets." This showed her talent as a lyricist. Her album 100,000 Whys (1993) had alternative music influences. It included a cover of "Silent All These Years" by Tori Amos.

Faye Wong loved the Scottish band Cocteau Twins. Their style influenced her album Random Thoughts. Her Cantonese version of The Cranberries' "Dreams" was in the movie Chungking Express. She also wrote her own songs, like "Pledge" and "Exit." "Exit" gave a rare look into her thoughts about life and her future.

Rising to Stardom

In 1994, Faye Wong released two Mandarin albums, Mystery and Sky. These albums made her famous in the Mandarin-speaking world. The song "I'm Willing" from Mystery became one of her most famous songs.

By the mid-1990s, Faye Wong was a huge star. She was known as a "heavenly queen." She released Decadent Sounds of Faye in 1995. This album was a tribute to her idol, Teresa Teng.

Her 1995 album Di-Dar mixed different styles, including Indian and Middle Eastern sounds. It was very successful because it was so different from other pop music.

Artistic Experiments and New Labels

In 1996, Faye Wong released Fuzao (meaning Restless). Many people consider this her most artistic album. It had many of her own songs. The Cocteau Twins even wrote two songs for it. This album was her personal favorite.

However, some fans found Restless too experimental. But her dedicated fans, called Fayenatics, loved it. After this album, Faye Wong was featured on the cover of Time magazine. She was the first Chinese singer to achieve this.

In 1997, Faye Wong signed with EMI, a big record company. She started singing more in Mandarin. Her first EMI album, Faye Wong (1997), was more commercial. It helped her become even more popular in mainland China.

In 1998, she sang a duet with Na Ying, a famous singer from mainland China. Their song, "Let's Meet in 1998," became a huge hit. This led to Faye Wong's first concerts in mainland China.

Her album Sing and Play (1998) included four songs she composed herself. It also had popular songs like "Red Bean." This album sold very well in Singapore and Japan.

International Recognition

In 1999, Faye Wong recorded "Eyes on Me" for the video game Final Fantasy VIII. This was the first time a Japanese video game used a Chinese singer for its theme song. The song sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. It won "Song of the Year" in Japan. This song helped her gain many fans in other countries.

She also performed two concerts in Japan at the Nippon Budokan. She was the first Chinese singer to perform there.

Her album Lovers & Strangers (1999) sold over 800,000 copies. It topped charts in many Asian countries. The title song was even featured in the movie Get Carter.

New Millennium and Hiatus

In 2000, Faye Wong released Fable. This album was unique because its first half told a continuous story through songs. The lyrics often explored themes of spirituality and Buddhism.

Her 2001 album, also called Faye Wong, featured collaborations with new producers. One popular song, "Vertigo," was composed by her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Tse.

Faye Wong also sang theme songs for movies, like Hero. She recorded a Buddhist song and a recitation of the Heart Sutra.

Her 2003 album, To Love, included songs she wrote herself. These songs often reflected her personal life. The album was very successful. In 2004, she won "Best Female Artist" at the Golden Melody Awards.

In January 2005, Faye Wong hinted at retirement. Her agent confirmed she was taking an "indefinite rest." In May 2005, she married Li Yapeng. Their daughter, Li Yan, was born the next year. For four years, Faye Wong did not perform. She even turned down an offer to sing at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

Return to Music

Faye Wong made her comeback at the 2010 CCTV New Year's Gala. She sang "Legend." From 2010 to 2012, she went on her Comeback Tour across Asia.

Since then, she has released singles, mostly theme songs for Chinese movies. She also sang a duet with Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma. She attends fashion shows and appears on TV.

On December 30, 2016, Faye Wong held a concert in Shanghai. Her daughter, Leah Dou, was one of the backing vocalists. The concert was streamed online to 20 million viewers. Some critics had mixed reviews about her performance.

In 2018, Faye Wong appeared in TV shows. In May 2020, she was part of an online benefit concert for frontline workers. In September 2020, she hosted a karaoke live stream with Jack Ma. In September 2021, she performed at the CCTV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala. In January 2025, she performed at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. On July 11, 2025, her first duet with her daughter, "You Are Also Here," was released. It was the theme song for a web series starring Leah Dou.

Acting Career

Faye Wong also has a successful acting career. Early on, she acted in Hong Kong TV dramas. These included The Legendary Ranger (1993) and File of Justice II (1992).

She gained international fame for her role in Wong Kar-wai's film Chungking Express (1994). She won the Best Actress Award at the 1996 Stockholm International Film Festival. The director praised her as a unique and gifted actress. She also starred in Wong Kar-wai's film 2046 (2004).

In 2000, she starred in Okinawa Rendez-vous. In 2002, she was in the comedy Chinese Odyssey 2002. Her performance earned her a Best Actress award from the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. In 2004, she starred with Leon Lai in Leaving Me, Loving You.

Charity Work

In August 2006, Faye Wong's husband, Li Yapeng, shared that their daughter, Li Yan, was born with a cleft lip. They sought medical treatment for her in California. The couple then started the Smile Angel Foundation. This charity helps children with clefts.

On December 26, 2006, Faye Wong made her first public appearance since 2005 at the foundation's first fundraising event. She did not speak or sing, but a new song she composed, "Cheerful Angel," became the charity's theme song. In 2007, she sang a version of the Diamond Sutra at another fundraising event.

In 2008, after a big earthquake in Sichuan, the couple helped a local girl who lost a leg. They agreed to pay for her medical treatment and visit her every year. In 2012, the Smile Angel Foundation donated money to help children affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

In 2012, the Smile Angel Foundation opened China's first charity children's hospital in Beijing. In 2013, Faye Wong and Li Yapeng were named top celebrity philanthropists in China.

Artistry and Style

Faye Wong in concert, Hong Kong, 2011

Faye Wong's concerts are known for her amazing singing. She rarely dances or talks much to the audience. She also has a unique and bold fashion sense on stage. Her concerts in 1994 were famous for her dreadlocks and very long sleeves. In 1998, she wore "burnt" cheek makeup and special boots.

She usually ends her concerts by sinking below the stage. For several years, she ended with the song "Mortal World" while shaking hands with fans. During her Comeback Tour (2010-2012), she ended with "Flower of Paradise." She has performed concerts in many parts of the world.

Legacy and Influence

Wong in 2011

Faye Wong has been ranked among the top celebrities in China by Forbes magazine many times. In 2009, she was voted the second most influential Chinese cultural celebrity of the past 60 years. She was second only to her idol, Teresa Teng.

Many artists have created songs and works inspired by Faye Wong. Her songs have been covered in Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Even China's 2007 spacecraft, Chang'e 1, played Faye Wong's song "Wishing We Last Forever".

Japanese director Shunji Iwai said that a character in his 2001 film All About Lily Chou-Chou was inspired by a Faye Wong concert. Japanese singer-actress Hikari Mitsushima also said Faye Wong is her idol.

Personal Life

Vegetarianism

Faye Wong used to be a vegetarian.

Social Media

Faye Wong used to be active on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. She was known for her funny posts. Her account has not been active since 2015. She also has a private Instagram account.

Religion

Faye Wong has been a Buddhist since the early 1990s. She has released many Buddhist songs. In 2001, she released a Buddhist album to raise money for a lama and to help build a large Buddha statue. She has also donated a lot of money to this project.

Family and Relationships

In the early 1990s, Faye Wong dated Luan Shu. She then started dating Dou Wei, a rock musician. They married in June 1996. Their daughter, Leah Dou, was born in January 1997. Leah's voice can be heard in some of Faye Wong's songs. Faye Wong and Dou Wei divorced in 1999.

Faye Wong had an on-and-off relationship with Hong Kong star Nicholas Tse from 2000 to 2003. Later in 2003, she began a relationship with Chinese actor Li Yapeng. They married in 2005. Their daughter, Li Yan, was born in 2006. Faye Wong and Li Yapeng divorced in 2013. In 2014, Faye Wong and Nicholas Tse got back together.

Discography

Concert Tours

Concert Song Lists

These are some songs from her concert albums.

Filmography

Films

Television

Awards and Achievements

Images for kids

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  Wong in 2011

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  Faye Wong in concert, Hong Kong, 2003

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  One of Wong's comeback concerts in Hong Kong in 2011. The concert was directed by Wong Kar-Wai.

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  Wong (far right) and friends attend the Beijing premiere of Eternal Moment (starring Li Yapeng), all wearing red scarves which symbolizes youth in China, February 2011

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  Faye Wong in concert, Hong Kong, 2011

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  Wong in 2011

See also

In Spanish: Faye Wong para niños