According to Chinese media 163, He Qing’s family published an obituary on December 13, announcing that the actress died peacefully at her home in Beijing. His farewell ceremony is scheduled for December 15, 2025 at 10:00 am.
A family acquaintance revealed that He Qing lived a private life after falling ill, avoiding public interactions to protect friends and fans from seeing her in a weakened state.
Born on January 13, 1964 in Jiangshan, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province, He Qing graduated from the Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe and entered the entertainment industry in 1983. She remains the only mainland Chinese actress to have appeared in television adaptations of all four Chinese literary classics, a feat that earned her the title “China’s No. 1 Historical Beauty.”
In 1984, he played Lian Lian, the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva Lingji, in Journey to the West. In 1988, he played the tragic role of Qin Keqing in Dream of the Red Chamber. Her gentle and elegant performance as Xiao Qiao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1993) has become one of her most iconic roles. In 1996, she captured hearts once again as the graceful courtesan Li Shishi in Water Margin.
Beyond the four great classics, He Qing has shown his versatility across various genres.
With a solid foundation in acting and an unmistakable classical charm, He Qing has brought dozens of vivid characters to life. Her honest, down-to-earth acting style and natural transitions between traditional and modern roles have earned her a lasting place in viewers’ hearts: many of her portrayals remain irreplaceable icons in the history of Chinese television.
Sources: Ngoisao
