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Man of the moment: Internationally acclaimed actor Liu Xiao Ling Tong signs autographs for fans during his visit to HCM City yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photos Van Dat  | Monkey shines: Chinese actor Liu Xiao Ling Tong has won audiences' hearts around the world since the 1980s in his role as Sun Wu Kong in Xi You Ji (Journey to the West). |
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HCM CITY — Chinese actor Liu Xiao Ling Tong, who has been winning audiences' hearts around the world since the 1980s in his role of Sun Wu Kong in the Chinese legendary film series Xi You Ji (Journey to the West), arrived in HCM City yesterday, after a meeting with fans in Ha Noi.
His stellar performance of the Monkey King has won the hearts of generations of Asian audiences, and led to his sterling reputation around the world.
Children, teenagers and adults, whose childhood is linked to the film, came to listen to their idol and see whether his kung fu skills are as excellent as those used in the film.
The actor was besieged by autograph hounds and fans wanting to take photographs.
Thousands of people crowded HCM City's downtown to see their idol yesterday while the internationally acclaimed movie star held an autograph session for his Vietnamese-language book.
The actor said he was happy to see the love of his fans during his visit, which is his second, to HCM City.
"The friendship of the two countries remains stable. I bowed my head three times in front of President Ho Chi Minh when visiting his mausoleum. During the 1950s, my father performed in the role of Sun Wu Kong for your President," the actor said.
"The Chinese and Vietnamese people love the character of Sun Wu Kong in the film very much. I believe that the icon is a friendship symbol of the two countries."
The actor said his family was thankful to the author of the novel Wu Cheng En. "My family would not have the fame if the novel had not been written."
Four generations of his family have played the role of Sun Wu Kong, who is also known as Qi Tian Da Sheng (Great Sage Equal to Heaven).
Along with the news about the movie, the actor said he would release a 3D movie Wu Cheng En and Xi You Ji in Viet Nam.
Liu Xiao Ling Tong's birth name is Zhang Jin Lai. He was born in Shanghai on April 12, 1959.
He performs as an actor for CCTV and the China Television Production Centre.
At the beginning of 1982, Liu began acting as the Monkey King in the film Journey to the West, which was directed by Yangjie, and produced by CCTV and China Television Production Center.
After being aired in1988, the television serial was warmly welcomed both home and abroad.
It was awarded the special prize of Flying Sky Prize and the first prize of Golden Eagle Prize.
Liu was also awarded the best male actor and the top star of Ten Stars of Film and Television of that year.
His five-day visit to Viet Nam is co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and China Radio International, as part of a series of cultural events to celebrate 60 years of Viet Nam -China diplomatic relations.
The 51-year-old will also chair an exchange with students at the HCM City University of Social Science and Humanities today, telling them about his role in the movie, which brought his family worldwide fame.
During his visit in Ha Noi, the actor visited Ha Long Bay, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Temple of Literature.
The actor who learned kung fu, monkey gestures and Chinese opera skills with his father at the age of six has performed in the past in South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and other locations.
He will return to China tomorrow. — VNS
