Taiwanese singer Chyi Yu (real name Zhong Lanrui), known for popular songs such as “Walking By the Coffee Shop” and “Thinking of You,” passed away suddenly in Beijing on August 19 at the age of 62. Her songs have gained popularity throughout the Chinese-speaking world.
Chyi Yu, who had settled in Mainland China in recent years, was mourned by fellow Taiwanese singer Huang An on August 20. He announced the passing of his good friend, the renowned singer Chyi Yu, in the early hours of August 19 due to illness.
Public records show that Chyi Yu, born Zhong Lanrui, a Taiwanese Atayal indigenous singer, was born in Hsinchu County, Taiwan in May 1963. After entering the music scene in the 1980s, she became a leading singer in the Chinese-speaking world, with hit songs like “Walking By the Coffee Shop,” “Thinking of You,” and “Misty Rain.”
In 1991, Chyi Yu married Mainland Chinese musician Gao Dalin and settled in Beijing, later stepping back from the music industry. She made a comeback in 2003, appearing on a program on CCTV, the state broadcaster of China. After a 20-year marriage with Gao Dalin, she relocated from Beijing to Chengdu in 2021.
Chyi Yu recently garnered attention during the controversy over Taiwanese people holding Mainland Chinese ID cards. In 2021, she posted a video on Douyin showing her Mainland Chinese ID card, revealing that she had obtained it “over 20 years ago” and asked not to be bullied.
According to reports by Mainland Chinese media, the “Yangquan Quan Classic Golden Melody Carnival” recently announced its lineup, which included Chyi Yu. The performance was scheduled to take place at the Shanxi University of Technology on August 23 and 24, with Chyi Yu even filming a promotional video for the event. Unfortunately, the sudden news of her passing left fans shocked and saddened.
August 23 was the planned date for Chyi Yu’s performance, but her son Gao Luwan confirmed in the obituary that a farewell ceremony for his mother will be held at the Eastern Suburb Funeral Home in Beijing on August 23.
According to reports by “Red Star News,” a staff member disclosed that the cause of Chyi Yu’s death was a “sudden illness.”