Renowned mainland Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi and Chinese member of the South Korean girl group i-dle, Song Yuki, were recently spotted leisurely strolling and shopping in the Langyuan area of Beijing. Despite a 20-year age gap, the two were casually dressed, wearing masks, and walking a Shiba Inu together, displaying a natural interaction before leaving in a car. The public was curious about their close friendship, which is reportedly linked to Zhang Ziyi’s daughter, “Xing Xing.”
Netizens excitedly shared the encounter of Zhang Ziyi and Song Yuki walking together on social media, expressing surprise at the sight and questioning if the two knew each other. Some were initially unaware of their friendship until confirming their identities from a store employee. They praised both for being “extremely slim and well-dressed,” even though they opted for a low-key outing that still garnered attention.
Zhang Ziyi, an internationally acclaimed actress with years of experience in the film industry, and Song Yuki, a rising K-pop group member with increasing popularity in Asia, may seem like unlikely friends. However, their private friendship is said to stem from Zhang Ziyi’s daughter, “Xing Xing.”
“Xing Xing” is a devoted fan of i-dle, leading Zhang Ziyi to personally accompany her daughter to Japan to attend a concert and even stay up late editing support videos for her idol, handmade gifts included. Zhang Ziyi once jokingly expressed jealousy to “Xing Xing,” saying, “You’ve never edited videos for me despite my numerous works.”
Due to her dedicated support for her daughter’s interests, Zhang Ziyi later connected with Song Yuki at a Tiffany event, where they instantly hit it off. Their bond grew from attending events together to now casually meeting up without the presence of their respective teams.
In fact, Zhang Ziyi often brings her children to film events. At the 81st Venice Film Festival, where she served as a jury member, Zhang Ziyi was seen walking the red carpet with “Xing Xing.” Additionally, she took a photo with French actress Isabelle Huppert and Australian actress Cate Blanchett. Videos shared by Zhang Ziyi on Weibo showed “Xing Xing” at 8 years old appearing confident and poised in front of the camera.
At a theater festival in China, Zhang Ziyi’s son shouted “mom” from the audience while she was on stage speaking. Zhang Ziyi playfully blew kisses in his direction, causing a burst of laughter from the audience, revealing her son’s face to the public.
At 47 years old, Zhang Ziyi, who ended her 8-year marriage with singer Wang Feng in 2023, has been particularly careful in educating her children. Whether at work or in her personal life, she strives to have her children by her side, providing them with exposure and building their confidence. Many admire Zhang Ziyi for being a “responsible and loving mother” who nurtures her children spiritually.
The revelation of the unlikely friendship between Zhang Ziyi and Song Yuki, bridging age and industry gaps, has sparked discussion. Netizens have jokingly and admiringly remarked, “With the support of celebrity mom Zhang Ziyi, ‘Xing Xing’ has truly reached the pinnacle of being a fan!”