Michelle Chen weeps at Stefanie Sun's 1st concert at Beijing National Stadium
Taiwanese actress Michelle Chen wept during Singapore pop star Stefanie Sun's concert at Beijing's National Stadium.
The 42-year-old was among the 50,000 spectators who turned up for the Beijing leg of Sun's concert tour on June 13.
'She is my favourite Chinese-language female singer and I have waited for this concert for a very long time,' Chen wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo on the morning of June 14.
'I had a chance to watch it more than 10 years ago, but missed it due to work,' she wrote in Chinese. 'I didn't expect that it would be many years later before I got to watch her in concert.'
Sun, 46, kicked off her first world tour in a decade, titled Aut Nihilo, in April with four concerts in Singapore. She also performed in Shanghai later in April and in Shenzhen in May.
'I wanted to cry the moment you appeared on stage, as you were part of my youth for many years,' Chen wrote. 'Fortunately, I cried for only half of the show as there were fast songs.'
The actress, who is best known for the Taiwanese coming-of-age romance film You Are The Apple Of My Eye (2011), then quoted part of the Chinese-language title of the movie in her post.
'During those years I listened to your songs, the songs felt like they were carrying one part of innocence, two parts of stubbornness and three parts of freedom,' she wrote.
'I found myself in the songs and pursued my dreams.'
The actress posted photos of her concert ticket and herself at the event, as well as two short videos of Sun performing.
Sun's concert at Beijing's National Stadium, which is nicknamed the Bird's Nest, was her first at the venue since her debut in 2000. Sun will be holding a second show there on June 15.
She became the fourth Chinese-language female singer to hold a concert at the stadium after Hong Kong's Karen Mok and G.E.M., as well as Taiwan's A-mei. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
The Great Inflatable Dome of China: 50m-high bubble blocks dust and noise from construction site
A giant inflatable dome has been erected over a worksite in Jinan in eastern China. - Photo: Mao Ning Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson/Facebook BEIJING: Who says construction can't be clean or stylish? A giant inflatable dome has been erected over a construction site in eastern China, in what may be the country's puffiest solution yet to keeping dust and noise pollution down. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, shared in a Facebook post on July 2 that Jinan in eastern China has introduced a 50m-high inflatable dome covering 20,000 sq m, which is reportedly the largest of its kind worldwide. An accompanying video on the post shows the large balloon-like structure enclosing the construction site. Mao said the dome aims to reduce noise and pollution, helping to protect nearby communities and the environment. According to Times Now News – an English-language news outlet based in India – which reported on the project on July 3, the dome is the first of its kind in China and uses negative pressure and air filtration systems to prevent dust from escaping into nearby areas. The Bridge Chronicle, a digital news platform, also reported on July 3 that the dome features advanced ventilation systems to ensure good air quality inside it, while transparent panels let in natural sunlight, cutting down on the need for artificial lighting during the day. The platform added that the dome's design allows for quick assembly and dismantling, making it a flexible solution for various construction projects. A viral TikTok video posted by British broadcaster ITV News on July 4 shows the dome being inflated, gradually taking on its tent-like shape as the sun rises and sets in the background. The video shows the dome nestled among several buildings, suggesting the site is in a developed urban zone. The time-lapse clip has since attracted more than 2.6 million views. Viewers of the TikTok video left some colourful and curious reactions. Karmic Kayda joked: 'This is really dangerous because if it gets too big it becomes really soft and a giant might see it and come to take a nap.' TikTok user Amely praised the innovation as 'such a clever way to protect both the environment and the people living nearby'. Meanwhile, a user by the name of ThingsRickAstlyWontDo was curious about the scale of the project, asking: 'How does one even manufacture a single sheet that large?' - The Straits Times/ANN
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Ejen Ali 2: Hit movie scores big in Indonesia as versatile actor Azman Zulkiply continues to shine as voice actor
Ejen Ali The Movie 2 (EATM2), the highly anticipated sequel to Malaysia's hit animated feature, is enjoying a strong run in Indonesia, with its theatrical release now extended to 240 cinemas, more than triple the number when it premiered on June 27. In just five days, the film has attracted over 174,000 moviegoers of all ages, especially children, marking a significant milestone for the homegrown animation in a competitive entertainment market. WAU Animation chief executive officer and EATM2 director Usamah Zaid Yasin said the team had not expected such an overwhelming reception, particularly as Indonesia does not operate a 'mandatory screening' system like Malaysia. "We entered the market at the perfect time during the school holidays, backed by strong local partnerships, distributors and a communications agency that truly understands the Indonesian audience,' he told Bernama. Usamah attributed the film's early momentum to the loyal Ejen Ali digital fanbase in Indonesia, cultivated over the years through YouTube and social media, alongside strategic collaborations with Indonesian animation studios and a soundtrack feature with popular local band Nidji. He said these localisation efforts gave the film a familiar touch and a sense of ownership for Indonesian viewers, and he expects viewership to continue rising in the coming weeks. With momentum building, EATM2 is expected to debut in Cambodia, following recent successful runs in Singapore and Brunei, cementing its growing regional footprint. In another development, there is no doubt that Rizwan's character in Ejen Ali The Movie 2 (EATM2) is one of the characters that most captured the audience's attention, not only because of his solid fighting skills, but also because of his cool appearance and gruff voice. Behind this character stands the figure of a very experienced and versatile actor, Azman Zulkiply. Interestingly, Rizwan is not the only character voiced by Azman in EATM2. He also plays the roles of General Rama and Viktor, each representing three different racial backgrounds, namely Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Of course, it is not easy to bring a character to life with different speaking styles and accents, but Azman said he loved the experience. "This is my proudest achievement in my career. (EATM2) What a ride, the opportunity to play three characters was an amazing experience," said Azman in a special interview. "I have many friends. Malays, Chinese and Indians, they are amazing people. That is why this country is so great. It is my utmost honour that I could voice over for all three characters. "I thank the EATM 2 team for giving me this opportunity, it is something I will never forget," added Azman. Even more impressive is that Azman has been voicing these three characters for almost a decade, spanning more than half of his career in voice acting, and it also makes it easier for him to delve deeply into each character and give each one a unique touch. "Being involved here is one of the happiest moments of my career. I'm so glad EATM 2 is also doing so well in many countries besides Malaysia. The support is wonderful and I hope we keep on going for more," Said Azman. For the record, EATM 2 is produced by WAU Animation in collaboration with Primeworks Studios (PWS). The film, which follows the story of a 12-year-old boy who accidentally becomes a spy, has grossed nearly RM60 million to date, with more regional releases in the pipeline.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
China's first Legoland opens to tourists in Shanghai
The Chinese branch of the British-owned theme park franchise is the biggest Legoland in the world. -- PHOTO: REUTERS SHANGHAI (AFP): Thousands of local tourists poured into China's first-ever Legoland as it opened its gates in Shanghai on Saturday, the latest theme park hoping to capitalise on a domestic tourism boom. The Chinese branch of the British-owned theme park franchise is the biggest Legoland in the world. It drew in early customers who flocked to attractions including a miniature train ride and a dragon-themed rollercoaster. "I personally love to play with Lego blocks and we have many sets at home... so I wanted to come to Legoland at the earliest opportunity," said Shi, a 35-year-old resident of nearby city Hangzhou, who was visiting the park with his wife and child. Eager Lego fans rushed into the park as soon as it opened. - Photo: Reuters Despite the Chinese economy's sluggish growth in recent years, domestic tourist spending grew 18.6 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year, according to statistics. "Ever since the pandemic, I've made very few trips abroad," said Shi, adding his family now travels to theme parks around China "many times a year". Eager Lego fans rushed into the park as soon as it opened, wearing themed shirts and waving branded flags as they enjoyed the 318,000-square-metre (78.5-acre) compound in scorching temperatures. Beijing has announced subsidies intended to make travelling within the country more affordable for Chinese citizens, and is pushing local governments to heavily market their attractions on social media. Companies have taken note of the wider local tourism boom and stepped up their plans in China. The theme park is hoping to capitalise on a domestic tourism boom. - Photo: Reuters A new "Spider-Man" attraction at Shanghai Disneyland broke ground in May, while Warner Brothers is set to open a Harry Potter experience in Shanghai by 2027. Toy giant Hasbro said this week its giant Peppa Pig park in the city was now "in the phase of creative design". Chinese collectable toy maker Pop Mart has also opened an attraction in Beijing featuring life-sized versions of its popular Labubu toys. "The various provinces are putting a lot of effort into expanding their tourism industries, and all of them have special attractions," said Xu, a 34-year-old parent visiting Legoland on Saturday with his children. But profitability remains a problem, especially for local companies with less brand recognition. As of late 2024, around 40 percent of parks were still failing to turn a profit, according to state media reports. Yet analysts point to a growing population of retirees and job market changes as key factors pushing more locals to visit domestic attractions. "The labour market is turning more flexible," said Ernan Cui, China consumer analyst at Gavekal Research. "More people have leisure time to travel around." - AFP
