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Chinese starlet Zhang Ziyi, always a lightning rod for criticism in her home country, is under fire again over questions about donations she pledged for survivors of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Chinese web users have attacked the star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for allegedly failing to honour her pledges, a spat that media reports said was a symptom of the nation’s love-hate relationship with Zhang. Donationgate, as China’s state media dubbed the row, surfaced last month when the popular website Tianya reported that Zhang had given only 840,000 yuan (124,000 dollars) of the one million yuan she promised for earthquake relief. The 8.0 magnitude quake in May 2008 devastated parts of Sichuan province in southwest China, leaving at least 87,000 people dead or missing. Zhang’s agent issued a public apology on Monday, blaming the issue on careless financial management. Charities said the final donations had been made. Zhang has not made any public statements. (more…)

We want to wish you a merry christmas, great holidays and a happy new year! This site is going on a little winter break. Don’t worry, we’re back in January 2010 with the latest on Miss Zhang Ziyi!

Filmed in high definition, the Zhang Ziyi Travel Series features the 31-year-old Beijing native travelling to Oman and Inner Mongolia to experience the unique culture and heritage of the two locations. Her role in the show is more than just a host – she is the focal point of each of the two 30-minute shows, sharing her adventures with us and allowing us to listen in on her conversations with the local people she encounters. “The goal for this project was to travel to different cities and different countries within one year, and experience life there,” said Zhang in a phone interview. “This is the sort of experience you don’t get in normal life; and the greatest thing I got out of this was the connection I felt with nature and all the wonderful people I met and the wild animals I saw.” Source: Star ECentral.com

Taiwanese actress Shu Qi has turned down a role in Chinese star Zhang Ziyi’s English movie Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Based on a novel by Lisa See, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is jointly produced by Zhang, Wendy Deng, wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Florence Sloan, wife of MGM chairman Harry Sloan, and also stars the Chinese actress. The movie tells a story about a community of women with bound feet living in a remote Hunan province seeking companionship from one another. As they developed close friendships, the women developed a secretive Nu Shu language as a form of communication and to keep their secrets from the men. In the film, who was supposed to be played by Shu Qi, develops a lifelong friendship with Lily (Zhang) and there is a nude scene which shows them writing on each other’s chest in the Nu Shu. (more…)

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is set to produce her first English-language film, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. The 30-year-old actress will produce Snow Flower with Wendi Murdoch, wife of News Corp chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch, as well as Florence Sloan, wife of MGM chairman Harry Sloan, according to Hollywoodreporter.com. Zhang will also star in the drama. Snow Flower is based on Lisa See’s novel of the same name about a lifelong friendship between two women, Lily and Snow Flower. Set in 19th century remote China, the film will be helmed by Joy Luck Club director Wayne Wang and shooting is expected to begin early next year in China. Zhang made her debut as a producer in romantic comedy Sophie’s Revenge, which was a hit in China, earning more than 90 million yuan (S$18 million) in box office receipts.

PREMIERING tomorrow on the National Geographic Channel (Astro Channel 553) at 10pm, the Zhang Ziyi Travel Series has the Beijing-born international movie star taking viewers on a personal journey of discovery with the help of local guides and famous friends such as photographer Yu Tsai. Originally created by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Zhang Ziyi Travel Series is a National Geographic co-production with the hotel group to unveil the exceptional landscapes of Oman and Inner Mongolia, and to show the determination of local people to nurture their heritage, culture, history, music and art, and preserve Mother Nature. In episode one, we journey with Ziyi to watch endangered turtle eggs hatch on a beach in Oman and see her dance with Bedouin warrior-musicians. In episode two, she stars in a stunning high-fashion photo shoot on the wild steppes of Inner Mongolia, and follows a herd of wild horses at dawn. “We are delighted to contribute towards environmental awareness and conservation that make people sit up and think about what they can do to care for the planet,” (more…)