Chinese singer and songwriter Liu Huan, best known for performing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has passed away. He was 63 at the time of his passing and was well known for his songs like ‘I Want To Become An Immortal’ and ‘The Way,’ to name a few.

Liu Huan passes away

The veteran singer, who started his career in the music industry in 1985, passed away in the early hours of September 25 in Shanghai. He was surrounded by his loved ones at the time of his passing. According to China Daily, the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), as well as the Mango V Foundation, where he was a retired faculty member, announced the news along with his management agency in an obituary the following day.The obituary, originally written in Mandarin, read: “Erudite in Chinese and Western music and guided by high moral standards as an educator, he dedicated his life to music and contributed greatly to higher education music education. His death is a major loss for the university and China’s music circle.”The reports further shared that while the cause of his passing has not been made public, he wished for his funeral procession to be as simple as possible. No funeral committee, farewell ceremony or memorial service will be held for the singer.

Who was Liu Huan?

Liu Huan was a pioneering figure in the Chinese entertainment industry, credited with popularising the pop genre over the years. He was born in Tianjin in August 1963 and later graduated from the University of International Relations in Beijing with a degree in French literature.He started releasing music sometime around 1985 and, in 1991, joined the university as a teacher and associate professor at the Art Teaching‑Research Section. He often focused on teaching Western music at the university and has also been credited with creating their official anthem. Huan officially retired in September 2023 and has led a quiet life since then.Throughout his career, Huan believed in giving back to the community and even started his own charitable organisation. The main aim of his nonprofit was to support young original musicians across the country.

About Liu Huan’s Beijing Olympics appearance

Huan slowly rose through the ranks as one of the pioneering voices in the Chinese entertainment industry, and in 2008, he scored global success after he was invited to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the event, he performed his famous song, ‘You and Me,’ while he was also joined by British soprano Sarah Brightman. His appearance at the Olympics helped attract international attention and took his career to new heights.