My Family History

One's Young Life Like a Flower

Daughter of the Fisherman 漁家女周璇 1943

Zhou Xuan 周璇 Aug 1,1918 or 1920 – Sept 22, 1957

The background song is Zhou Xuan singing. It is 256 kbps which is high mp3 quality. If you wish to stop this music, please go to the foot of this page and adjust the small player accordingly or just turn your speakers down a little!

The voice of Old Shanghai. China's 'Golden Voice' was one of the most popular and important actress/singers of the 1930s and 40s. She made more than 40 movies and recorded 200 songs. She was born Su Pu into a poor family in Changzhou, on August 1st in either 1918 or 1920. At the age of three, she was taken to a family named Wang in Jintan Country. Her name was changed to Wang Xiaohong. Later, she was sent to a family named Zhou in Shanghai and renamed Zhou Xiaohong.

At the age of thirteen, she took Zhou Xuan (beautiful jade) as her stage name. She married Yan Hua in 1938, but their marriage ended in 1941. They had no children. She was eventually to have 2 sons, Zhou Min, who was the eldest, and Zhou Wei who was born just before her death in 1957. She spent her entire life searching for her biological parents but her parentage was never established, until after her tragic death on September 22, 1957 in a mental asylum. A possible cause of death may have been encephalitis following a nervous breakdown.

Her personal life had been a sad one, but she left a timeless legacy - a true legend. She never knew true happiness and longevity in marriage or in love. She never saw her 40th birthday. But the warmth and gold she gave to millions will stay with us forever.