10. Remembering cultural icons we lost

As we celebrate the year's cultural triumphs, we also remember the loss of several cultural icons who left an indelible mark on China's arts and literature.

Cheng Pei-pei, the pioneering Hong Kong action star, passed away at 78. Known for her chivalric female roles, Cheng was regarded as the first female martial arts performer in Hong Kong cinema. Born in Shanghai in 1946, she moved to Hong Kong in her youth and embarked on a dazzling career, which lasted for around six decades.

Qiong Yao, the beloved romance novelist from Taiwan, passed away at 86. Qiong was regarded as the most popular romance writer in the Chinese-speaking world, and her novels have been adapted into more than 100 films and television series. With a graceful and eloquent style, she crafted intricate, poignant stories reflecting her dreams and unwavering love, establishing contemporary classics that have captivated Chinese-speaking audiences for decades.

Ye Jiaying (Florence Chia-ying Yeh), a renowned scholar of Chinese classical literature, passed away at 100. Yeh was engaged in creating, researching and teaching Chinese poetry both in China and abroad, which she called her sole mission in life. She insisted on teaching even in her 90s, and videos of her lectures went viral on Chinese social media platforms.

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