Li Yapeng & Faye Wong: China's Most Amicable Celebrity Divorce
They stayed financially independent throughout marriage — so splitting up meant there was nothing to split.
Key Facts
What Happened
Faye Wong is arguably the most iconic Chinese-language pop star of her generation, with a career spanning three decades and a fan base numbering in the hundreds of millions across Greater China. Li Yapeng is a well-known Chinese actor and businessman. The couple married in 2005, and their union was one of the most closely watched celebrity relationships in China. They had one daughter together, Li Yan, who was born with a cleft lip condition that the couple addressed publicly and used as a platform for charitable work.
On September 13, 2013, Li Yapeng announced on Weibo (China's equivalent of Twitter) that the couple had officially divorced, writing: 'I am grateful for the eight years of marriage.' Faye Wong followed with her own Weibo post confirming the split. The announcement crashed the Weibo servers due to the massive volume of traffic from shocked fans.
What made this divorce remarkable was its simplicity. The couple had maintained complete financial independence throughout their marriage — each managed their own income, investments, and assets separately. As a result, there was no property to divide. Custody of their daughter Li Yan was shared, with her living primarily with Li Yapeng. The divorce was registered in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, where Li Yapeng was born.
Faye Wong later reunited with her former boyfriend Nicholas Tse (who had himself recently divorced Cecilia Cheung), creating one of the most talked-about romantic entanglements in Chinese entertainment. Li Yapeng continued his charitable work through the Smile Angel Foundation, focusing on children with cleft lip conditions. Their divorce remains a rare example of a clean, dignified celebrity split in China.
Legal Breakdown: Financial independence within marriage as divorce planning in Chinese law
Chinese Divorce by Agreement
China allows administrative divorce (协议离婚) where couples can register their divorce at a civil affairs bureau without court involvement if they agree on all terms. Since 2021, China has implemented a 30-day 'cooling-off period' for administrative divorces, but this was not in effect during the Li-Wong divorce. The process is straightforward and can be completed in a single visit.
Financial Independence Within Marriage
Under Chinese marriage law, property acquired during marriage is generally considered jointly owned. However, couples can agree — either formally or informally — to maintain separate finances. The Li-Wong approach of complete financial independence eliminated the most contentious aspect of most divorces: asset division. This is increasingly common among wealthy Chinese couples.
Custody Under Chinese Law
Chinese family courts prioritize the best interests of the child when determining custody. For children under two, mothers typically receive custody. For older children, courts consider factors including financial stability, living environment, and the child's own preferences. Li Yapeng receiving primary custody of their daughter suggested a mutual agreement based on practical considerations rather than a contested custody battle.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Maintaining financial independence within marriage can dramatically simplify divorce proceedings if the relationship ends.
- →Amicable divorces are possible even for the most high-profile couples — mutual respect and pre-agreed financial boundaries make clean breaks achievable.
- →Administrative divorce systems that avoid court intervention entirely can reduce costs, time, and emotional trauma for couples who agree on terms.
- →Public communication matters: both parties controlling their own narrative through coordinated social media announcements prevented a media circus.
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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.