On May 18th, Hong Kong’s legendary actor, Chow Yun-fat (Big Brother Fat), celebrated his 70th birthday. Despite the scorching weather warning issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, Chow Yun-fat chose to celebrate by going for a run to mark his entry into the “70s club.” Alongside him were fellow stars like Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and the couple Richie Jen and Cari Tse, all extending their well wishes for Chow Yun-fat’s health and happiness.
In photos shared by actors Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Cari Tse on their social media, the weather appeared sunny with occasional clouds. Chow Yun-fat was seen sporting a cap and sunglasses, donning a dark grey tank top that highlighted his strong and muscular arms. With his dark complexion, full face, and radiant smile, he looked genuinely happy.
Tony Leung Chiu-wai captioned the photo of him, his wife, and Chow Yun-fat on Instagram with words of admiration: “In both life and work, he is my role model. Happy 70th birthday to the most respected eldest brother! Live freely and happily!”
Cari Tse shared a picture of her family with Chow Yun-fat and sent him birthday wishes: “My ultimate idol, happy 70th birthday, may you have a healthy body, enjoy long runs, run past a hundred, and live happily every day!”
Many netizens left messages wishing Chow Yun-fat good health, eternal happiness, echoing his previous statement that, “My ideal is to be a happy ordinary person. As one grows older, one realizes that the real challenge in life is not how much money one earns, but how to maintain a peaceful mind and live an ordinary yet joyful life.” After the morning run celebration, Chow Yun-fat’s wife, Jasmine Tan, hosted a birthday party for him in the evening, where they celebrated together with their recently adopted dog, creating a warm and wholesome atmosphere.
Chow Yun-fat, who only started running at the age of 60 for health reasons, initially began to alleviate a spinal condition caused by his many action movie stunts. During the promotion of the film “Gambler” recently, he revealed that running not only straightened his back but also made him 2 centimeters taller.
Over time, Chow Yun-fat not only gained insights from running but also incorporated it into his lifestyle. He founded the “Hong Kong Running Group,” serving as both team captain and masseur, often inviting numerous celebrities from the entertainment industry to join him in climbing mountains and teaching them post-run massages. Now enjoying a semi-retired life, Chow Yun-fat stays busy and content with his pursuits.
In recent years, Chow Yun-fat has completed the Hong Kong Cross Country Championships and the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 10km challenge. In many encounters captured by fans, Chow Yun-fat is often seen taking selfies with them, portraying a friendly and humorous big brother-next-door image. There’s a saying circulating in town: “Meeting Chow Yun-fat is not that difficult, just go for a run on the hills of Hong Kong.” The director of “Gambler” once praised him, saying, “No one knows the Hong Kong hills better than Chow Yun-fat; he knows which mountain roads are wide enough to accommodate filming equipment.”