In the entertainment industry of Hong Kong, there is a “legendary queen” who has captured the hearts of multiple generations, recognized by citizens from the age of ten to one hundred. She is the 94-year-old Huang Xiaowei, known as “Auntie Xiaowei” or “Xiaowei BB,” a “queen of disguise” who remains active in front of the camera in her nineties. Every Chinese New Year’s Eve, she makes a grand appearance at the Wong Tai Sin Temple with exaggerated costumes to light incense, not only to bring smiles but also with hidden “onion” stories behind. The film “Legend of Xiaowei” is about to start filming, portraying the legendary woman with nearly a century of life experiences living a more colorful life than the movies themselves.
Huang Xiaowei, originally named Huang Huilian, was born in 1930 and had a deep passion for performing since childhood. She started as an extra in high school, never refusing any role offered. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, she fled with her family to Guangzhou. After the war, she officially entered the film industry in 1956, with her first film “Fire” co-starring with renowned actors such as “Red Line Girl” and Zhang Ying, showcasing her early start in the entertainment industry.
Yet, what truly made her the center of media attention was not her film works, but her love story.
At the age of 18, Huang Xiaowei met her first love, Hu Baiquan, a prestigious lawyer 23 years her senior. Despite his marriage, she selflessly left the entertainment industry and bore him four sons and two daughters, willingly waiting silently. After many years of emotional turmoil, she once left for Taiwan and briefly entered a convent, experiencing a low point in her life.
Through twists and turns, Huang Xiaowei and Hu Baiquan’s relationship persisted. Until 1983, she married “Hong Kong Racing Father” Pan Binglie, achieving a lasting late-life romance spanning several decades.
Every Chinese New Year’s Eve, Auntie Xiaowei must appear at Wong Tai Sin, donning gorgeous costumes to pay respects—dressed as a feathered warrior in the Year of the Rooster, wearing a pig’s nose in the Year of the Pig, transforming into Minnie Mouse in the Year of the Rat… While to others it may seem like seeking attention, for her, it is a promise and remembrance of her past friends.
She said that in the past, she used to go to worship with her three close sisters, Phoenix Girl, Deng Biyun, and Guan Peiying, every Chinese New Year’s Eve. However, as the years passed, all three missed the incense-lighting ceremony in the same year due to different reasons and passed away, leaving her feeling cold and lonely. Since then, she has persisted in lighting incense personally, feeling as though these sisters are still by her side.
“I have never tried seeking divination for myself, always for Hong Kong, for everyone.” This statement reflects her belief—society thrives, individuals thrive.
In the Year of the Dragon in 2024, she intentionally returned from living in the United States to Hong Kong, appearing at the Wong Tai Sin Temple in the costume of “Little Dragon Girl.” Auntie Xiaowei said she belongs to Hong Kong, she belongs to everyone, and she is happy to see everyone overcoming the pandemic, having work, food, tasks, and shelter, fulfilling her wishes.
Although some may find her appearances too exaggerated or even frightening, she pays no mind to others’ opinions. This confidence and optimistic attitude are the reasons she became the “queen of disguise.”
Apart from amusing the audience with quirky images in the entertainment industry, Huang Xiaowei is also an activist deeply concerned about Hong Kong, actively participating in social affairs.
In 2016, she founded the “Xiaowei Charity Foundation,” aiming to establish retirement homes where seniors can age peacefully. In 2024, she expressed plans to build a new retirement home in the New Territories, worried about the plight of lonely elderly people in Hong Kong, lamenting that “being elderly myself, I know the taste of loneliness.”
She also advocates for environmental issues, appearing in a mermaid costume in 2019 to participate in a green promotional video against the “Tomorrow-Lantau” project, saying, “Young people, join me in protecting Lantau!” In August of the same year, she joined a human chain action in Wan Chai, expressing her heartfelt pain and sympathy for the struggles of young people, despite not aligning with either the Blue or Yellow camp. This genuine empathy and compassion have made her a “divine ally” in the hearts of many young netizens.
Huang Xiaowei refuses to admit to aging, rejecting becoming a “waste of an elderly.” She was once spotted at a Miriam Yeung concert, confessing to being a fan of Yeung and jokingly calling herself “Ginger Sugar.” This cross-generational charm and trend sensitivity have kept her remarkably appealing among the younger generation.
In 2023, she hosted a banquet of 60 tables at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui, holding a “last party of life,” already planning for her final arrangements—donating her body for medical purposes instead of cremation. “The most important thing is to look good, even in death!” This statement showcases her carefree and resolute attitude towards life.
Her autobiographical film “Legend of Xiaowei” has recently gained investment for production, with her set to personally act in a scene of “lying in a coffin,” continuing to interpret the saying “life is a drama, and a drama is life” through actions.
Regardless of how others perceive her, she lives freely and authentically. Age is not a barrier; as long as one remains true to themselves and moves forward optimistically, they can live out the most brilliant chapter of their own lives.
Huang Xiaowei, a legendary woman who truly interprets life’s roles with dedication, her legend continues.
In this vibrant yet challenging city of Hong Kong, everyone navigates their own small boats in the vast sea of life. Though the winds and waves are unpredictable, Hong Kongers always move forward, never stopping. With their unique spirit, they find their own course. “Chronicles of Drifting” is born for these navigators, quietly documenting the legends they script.