The screen went quiet today. I can confirm that beloved Mainland actress He Qing passed away in Beijing on December 13, aged 61. Her family has issued an obituary and set a farewell ceremony for December 15. A candle goes out, yet her light on screen remains. 🕯
What happened today
Her family’s notice states that the goodbye will be held at 10:00 a.m. on December 15, at the Jiu’an Hall of the Changping Funeral Home in Beijing. Friends, peers, and audiences moved by her work are preparing to pay their respects.
He Qing’s passing lands with weight. She was a symbol of classical grace in Chinese television. She carried legends into living rooms, then into memory.
Farewell ceremony, December 15, 10:00 a.m., Beijing Changping Funeral Home, Jiu’an Hall.
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The face of classical beauty on screen
For many, He Qing defined the look and soul of classical heroines. She was often called the first beauty of the classical screen. She wore ancient robes like they were made for her, and let silence do the talking.
Her legacy is rare and clear. Few actors have crossed the four great classics with such ease and impact. She also stepped into Qiong Yao’s world at a key moment, shaping a new ideal of gentle, independent womanhood on television.
- Journey to the West, Lianlian, a tender guise of the Lingji Bodhisattva
- Dream of Red Mansions, Qin Keqing, elegant and fated
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xiao Qiao, bright as spring light
- Water Margin, Li Shishi, poised and luminous
- Qiong Yao’s 1992 drama Green Green Grass by the River, Hua Youlin, refined yet strong
Each role felt specific, built with care. She let classic women be soft and smart, beautiful and brave. She made tradition feel new.
Why it matters now
Culturally, He Qing was a bridge. She linked the poetic China we read to the living China we see. Her face carried a style, but her craft carried a voice. When her Qin Keqing smiled, you sensed a full story behind it. When her Xiao Qiao looked across a river, you felt both love and war in one breath.
She leaves us a clear path. Period dramas today still chase her balance of elegance and human truth. Directors still quote the restraint she mastered. Young actors study her eyes, the pause, the breath, the turn of the head that says more than a speech.
He Qing is among the very few Mainland actresses to portray major roles across all four great classics, and also lead a Qiong Yao drama.
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A quiet fight, a quiet exit
He Qing lived with illness for years. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor around 2015 and underwent surgery. She tried to return, then chose a low profile when the illness returned. She wanted the public to remember her roles, not her pain.
Colleagues have sent heartfelt words. Veterans who shared sets with her speak of grace and focus. Friends from the Journey to the West family remember her kindness. Fans are revisiting her scenes tonight. Many are rediscovering the tender courage she gave to each woman she played.
How fans are saying goodbye
Across the city, you can already imagine the white flowers, the quiet bows, the soft hum of theme songs at the edge of the hall. Others will say goodbye by rewatching a favorite episode, a line, a look.
If you plan to pay respects, be gentle with the space and the family’s wishes. He Qing gave us years of beauty, and she left with great dignity.
If you plan to visit the hall, follow the venue rules, respect privacy, and avoid crowding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When and where is the farewell ceremony?
A: December 15, 10:00 a.m., at Jiu’an Hall, Changping Funeral Home, Beijing.
Q: What roles made He Qing iconic?
A: Lianlian in Journey to the West, Qin Keqing in Dream of Red Mansions, Xiao Qiao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Li Shishi in Water Margin, and Hua Youlin in Green Green Grass by the River.
Q: Did she really act across all four great classics?
A: Yes, she is among the rare actresses to portray key women in all four works, each with a distinct style.
Q: How did her illness affect her career?
A: She underwent brain surgery around 2015, then stepped back from public life when her condition returned, choosing privacy.
Q: Will there be a public memorial or livestream?
A: The family has set the farewell at Changping Funeral Home. Any public access details will follow the venue’s and family’s arrangements.
He Qing’s exit closes a page, but her work keeps the book open. She taught a generation how to see classical women as full people, tender and brave at once. The curtain falls, the scene fades, and her image stays, bright and calm, like moonlight on a river.
