Mainland Chinese actress Fan Bingbing and Taiwanese artist Zhang Jun Ning once starred together in the period drama “The Empress of China” (also known as “The Empress of China”), playing the roles of Wu Meiniang and Xu Hui, who went from sisters to archrivals in the series. Despite their on-screen rivalry, the two of them forged a strong friendship lasting 12 years off-screen.
On September 4th, Zhang Jun Ning celebrated her 44th birthday. Fan Bingbing, as she always does, shared a photo on social media and sent warm wishes, saying, “Happy birthday! May all your wishes come true in this vast world. Be happy, be healthy, and embark on new journeys!” Once again, it confirms the unwavering and enduring bond of sisterhood between the two.
In 2018, Fan Bingbing was embroiled in a tax evasion scandal, fined over 880 million RMB by authorities, causing a significant setback to her image and career in the entertainment industry. Despite the harsh realities of the showbiz world, Zhang Jun Ning never distanced herself from Fan Bingbing, maintaining a stable and unbreakable friendship.
What left a deep impression on netizens is that although Fan Bingbing’s birthday is no longer celebrated as it used to be, with a deserted Weibo timeline, Zhang Jun Ning has always openly sent birthday wishes to Fan Bingbing each year without hesitation, demonstrating the true meaning of friendship in times of adversity.
On November 22, 2025, Fan Bingbing won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress for her role in the film “Mother Earth” directed by Malaysian director Zhang Jian, and Zhang Jun Ning was overjoyed and moved to tears upon learning the news. Due to the Chinese government’s suppression of the Golden Horse Awards, Fan Bingbing’s acting career remained restricted in Mainland China. At that time, after being crowned with the Best Actress title, congratulatory posts and trending topics on platforms like Weibo were swiftly “zeroed out” and deleted. Therefore, Zhang Jun Ning chose to discreetly congratulate her friend on the Threads platform commonly used in Taiwan and overseas, saying, “Happy for you, proud of you!” showing her support.
On Zhang Jun Ning’s 44th birthday, Fan Bingbing once again sent her best wishes. The fan clubs and entertainment bloggers of both actresses shared their years of photos together, celebrating Zhang Jun Ning’s birthday together. Many netizens expressed envy for such a divine friendship, deeming it extremely precious to maintain a pure friendship for 12 years in the complex entertainment industry.