Recently, the new film “Avenue of Confusion” starring Zhang Ziyi has premiered in mainland China, attracting widespread attention. The movie tells a suspenseful story with a somewhat heavy atmosphere. In a tense courtroom debate scene in the film, sharp-eyed viewers noticed Zhang Ziyi’s 9-year-old daughter, “Xingxing,” making a cameo appearance, and she showed no signs of stage fright.
Divided into two parts as “Avenue of Confusion: Case Suspended” after that, the film has been in theaters for 11 days with a box office revenue of 338 million yuan, aiming for a total of about 400 million. Despite media reviews claiming the film to have a gap between critical acclaim and box office success, it has managed to make it to the top ten in the first half of the 2025 box office rankings in China amid the economic downturn, which is still considered a good achievement.
The film serves as a significant comeback for Zhang Ziyi following her divorce from singer Wang Feng, tailored for her in terms of both the theme and the character of the leading actress. With her outstanding performance, Zhang Ziyi has once again reclaimed the throne as the queen of cinema.
Recently, it was revealed by the media that “Avenue of Confusion” had a major surprise – Zhang Ziyi’s 9-year-old daughter, “Xingxing,” also made an appearance in the film. Since it was a group scene, many viewers did not notice her.
Audiences feedback that “Xingxing” had a special close-up shot lasting for 1 second in the film. Despite its brevity, this marked “Xingxing’s” debut on the big screen. She was seen wearing a floral cheongsam, standing straight in the crowd, looking at the camera with a focused and confident gaze, showing no hint of shyness or playfulness.
After photos of “Xingxing” were released, some netizens speculated about Zhang Ziyi’s intention in allowing her daughter to cameo in the film, wondering if she might want her to enter the entertainment industry in the future.
When talking about “Xingxing’s” childhood, with her round face and small eyes, she is a spitting image of her father Wang Feng, many internet users jokingly calling her Wang Feng’s “copy and paste.” Time flies, and now 10-year-old “Xingxing” has grown taller, her facial features developing as the baby fat fades away, revealing a high nose bridge and well-defined cheekbones. Standing beside Zhang Ziyi, the mother-daughter pair’s profile starts to resemble each other more and more.
Earlier on, “Xingxing” and her mother attended the red carpet premiere of “Avenue of Confusion.” Dressed in an elegant white fluffy princess dress with curly hair, she looked like a princess stepping out of a fairy tale. Despite being somewhat shy and covering her mouth while smiling under the gaze of numerous flashlights and celebrities, she stood tall with a poised and confident demeanor, leading netizens to praise her for inheriting Zhang Ziyi’s exceptional genes. Even the director Chen Kaige stood up and offered his “golden viewing spot” adjacent to Zhang Ziyi for “Xingxing.”
In fact, “Xingxing” has been taken by Zhang Ziyi to broaden her horizons since she was very young.
Last year, serving as a jury member for the 81st Venice Film Festival’s main competition section, Zhang Ziyi walked the red carpet at the opening ceremony followed by a photo with French actress Isabelle Huppert and Australian actress Cate Blanchett, with “Xingxing” also in the frame. From the video Zhang Ziyi later shared on Weibo, 8-year-old “Xingxing” appeared mature and confident, seemingly unfazed. Perhaps having had this experience, “Xingxing” now can order food fluently in French.
Not long ago, Zhang Ziyi took “Xingxing” to the filming location of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” for a nostalgic trip, both of them dressed in Hanfu and showcasing the same hairstyle as in the movie, dancing by the stream like figures from a painting. Netizens praised Zhang Ziyi for showing great dedication in educating her child, bringing her along as much as possible even while working, to expand her horizons and nurture her confidence.