Renowned mainland Chinese singer Zhang Liangying, known as the “Dolphin Princess” for her high-pitched vocals, made a lengthy post on Weibo on November 23, announcing the cancellation of the additional performance plans for her New Year’s Eve concert in 2025. She revealed her recent health conditions for the first time, disclosing that she had been diagnosed with shingles, her old ankle injury had resurfaced unexpectedly, forcing her to hop on one leg, and her immune system disorder and ongoing issue of bleeding palms for the past decade had worsened. She admitted that she could no longer maintain the previous pace of work.
As tickets for Zhang Liangying’s New Year’s Eve concert in Chengdu sold out in 5 seconds and the potential for multi-million revenue from additional shows seemed within reach, she abruptly halted all plans. As a singer with a career spanning two decades, why did Zhang Liangying voluntarily hit the brakes at the peak of her success? The answer lies in her medical records: the scars left by shingles crawled on her skin like earthworms, the reoccurrence of fluid in her ankle turned her into a “one-legged hopping frog”. However, more painful than the illnesses was the doctor’s warning that her immune system was in critical condition.
According to data, shingles is known as the “most painful thing in the world”, with a pain scale reaching up to level 10, comparable to being cut by an electric knife. Zhang Liangying was diagnosed in late October, despite catching it within the 72-hour golden treatment window, the virus still ravaged her nerves and skin. Although she casually mentioned having “some scars”, it could not hide the cruel fact that this virus specifically targets people with compromised immune systems.
To compound matters, Zhang Liangying’s old ankle injury with fluid accumulation resurfaced. Chinese media reported that during a busy schedule in November, due to lack of sleep, her joints swelled again, leaving her to move only by hopping on one leg. This old injury stemmed from the aftermath of her concert in Xi’an in October, where she fell from a 2-meter-high platform but endured the pain to finish the entire show. This kind of “professionalism” now seems like a silent protest from her body.
In fact, Zhang Liangying’s medical reports had long sounded the alarm. Diagnosed with an “immune disorder and susceptibility to illness”, she had been dealing with dry, cracked palms that would bleed even when stretching, malnutrition, and sudden deafness. In 2025, she juggled 33 commercial performances and 3 variety shows, a “high-wire act” that kept her body constantly in an overworked state.
When revealing her condition, Zhang Liangying simultaneously announced the cancellation of the additional performances for the New Year’s Eve concert. Despite a tinge of regret in her tone, the strong-willed singer remained magnanimous, stating, “Yes, I did reserve time for additional shows. However, my condition may not allow it. This time, I choose to yield. God has already been kind to me. After working for twenty years, my physical endurance has surpassed most people, right? I am content!”
At 40 years old, Zhang Liangying rose to fame as the third-place winner on the Hunan TV show “Super Girl” in 2005, showcasing her vocal talents in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and English songs. Her hit songs include “Draw Hearts”, “Peerless Under Heaven”, and “If This Is Love”. She has won the Best Female Singer award at the Chinese Song Chart for eight consecutive years, the Best Female Singer at the Global Chinese Music Awards for four years, and has released English singles like “Dust My Shoulders Off”, establishing herself as one of China’s most commercially valuable female singers.
While her achievements in her singing career are notable, Zhang Liangying’s personal life has been tumultuous. In 2016, she married Feng Ke, her partner of 13 years, against her mother’s vehement opposition. Zhang Liangying’s fans were also displeased with Feng Ke, as some revealed changes in the ownership of their company “Shao Cheng Times” over the years, showing a diminishing share of Zhang Liangying’s ownership.
Although her marriage to Feng Ke ended three years ago, Zhang Liangying had grown accustomed to proving her worth through “desperate” efforts in a time bound by emotions and interests, rejecting work could have been interpreted as instability in her relationship. Now, she has finally learned to say “no”, canceling non-essential events in December, enforcing a team curfew before 2 a.m., refraining from additional shows on New Year’s without compromising the quality by innovatively recording demos in a hotel, and compensating for her physical limitations by singing more acapella during performances. Her decision to “slow down” has garnered support from over 80% of netizens.