Jet Li & Huang Qiuyan: The Martial Arts Star Who Left His First Love
He left for another woman — but gave his first wife nearly everything he had.
Key Facts
What Happened
Jet Li and Huang Qiuyan were both members of the Beijing Wushu Team when they fell in love as teenagers. Huang was a champion martial artist in her own right, and the two married in 1987 when Li's film career was beginning to take off. They had two daughters — Li Si (born 1988) and Li Taimi (born 1989). But Li's rising stardom and long periods away filming took a toll on the young marriage.
In 1989, during the filming of Dragon Fight in the United States, Jet Li met actress Nina Li Chi. The affair became public, and in 1990, Jet Li and Huang Qiuyan divorced. The split was painful, particularly for Huang, who had sacrificed her own martial arts career to support her husband's film ambitions. In Chinese media, Li faced significant criticism for abandoning his wife and young daughters.
To his credit, Jet Li handled the financial side of the divorce generously. He gave Huang Qiuyan the majority of his assets and savings at the time, including his property in the United States. He also continued to provide financial support to Huang's extended family. Despite the personal betrayal, the two maintained a surprisingly cordial post-divorce relationship, with Li later saying: 'When we parted, we were really like friends.'
Jet Li married Nina Li Chi in 1999, and the couple had two more daughters. Huang Qiuyan eventually remarried in 2005 — and Jet Li reportedly sent a wedding gift of approximately $50,000. Decades later, Li publicly apologized to Huang, admitting he 'didn't know what love was' during their marriage. The case illustrates how genuine remorse and financial generosity can transform an ugly divorce into a lasting, if unconventional, friendship.
Legal Breakdown: Voluntary generous settlements when leaving a marriage for another person
Chinese Divorce in the Late 1980s
In 1990, Chinese divorce law was still governed by the 1980 Marriage Law, which allowed divorce by mutual consent or by court petition. At-fault grounds such as adultery could influence asset distribution. While courts had discretion over property division, voluntary agreements between the parties were preferred and often resulted in more generous settlements for the wronged spouse.
Voluntary Over-Compensation
Jet Li's decision to give Huang the majority of his assets exceeded what any Chinese court would likely have ordered. This pattern — the at-fault spouse voluntarily providing more than legally required — is common when guilt, public reputation concerns, and genuine remorse combine. It can accelerate the divorce process and reduce conflict, but it also means the departing spouse starts their new life with significantly fewer resources.
Cross-Border Property in Divorce
Li's transfer of his US property to Huang introduced international complexity. Chinese courts can order division of overseas assets, but enforcement depends on cooperation or international treaties. In this case, Li's voluntary transfer avoided enforcement complications entirely, a pragmatic approach for couples with assets in multiple jurisdictions.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Generous voluntary settlements can transform bitter divorces into workable post-marital relationships, especially when children are involved.
- →The at-fault spouse often faces both financial and reputational consequences — Jet Li's public criticism in Chinese media lasted for years.
- →Cross-border assets add complexity to divorce, but voluntary cooperation can avoid the expensive and uncertain process of international enforcement.
- →Public apologies and ongoing financial support can help repair damaged relationships over time, benefiting children who need both parents.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.