‘Surrounded by total love’: China director, 75, criticised for 5th child plan with wife
China’s veteran filmmaker Zhang Jizhong, 75, and his 44-year-old wife, Du Xinglin, ignited online debate after announcing they are contemplating having a fifth child. The Beijing-born director and producer is renowned for his adaptations of celebrated television versions of classic Chinese novels, including Water Margin and Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. Du, who studied in France, holds a doctorate…
Veteran Chinese filmmaker Zhang Jizhong, 75, sparked controversy online after announcing his intention to have a fifth child with his wife, 44-year-old Du Xinglin. The Beijing-based director, known for adapting Chinese classics like Water Margin and Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, married Du in 2017 and already has three children: a son, two daughters, and a son conceived via IVF.
Du, a French-educated intellectual property law expert, expressed her desire for another child during a live stream, jokingly describing the hoped-for son as "Prince Dragon." The announcement garnered mixed reactions, with some supportive of the couple's right to decide their family size and others criticizing the director's age and suggesting the pregnancy might be for publicity.
Du later clarified her intention, stating she would not plan for a fifth pregnancy deliberately but would "let nature take its course." She emphasized that each child brings a new stage of life and that her family is in a positive cycle. Despite the criticism, Du affirmed that the love she provides ensures her children always feel surrounded by total love.
The couple maintains a significant online presence with over 5.6 million followers, sharing their parenting journey and cultural insights.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
