If we had to name one cultural shapeshifter in Hong Kong’s entertainment scene, it has to be Jacky Cheung. Regarded one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop alongside Andy Lau, Leon Lai, and Aaron Kwok, Cheung dominated the music scene in Hong Kong and Asia throughout the 1990s and his presence reverberates strongly almost 40 years after his debut. To celebrate Hong Kong’s iconic figure, let’s take you through 10 interesting facts about Jacky Cheung you probably didn’t know.
Even in his 60s, Cheung steals the spotlight just like in his prime years, from overzealous fans chanting his name to concert tours breaking records. Dubbed the ‘God of Songs’ for his vocal supremacy, Cheung remains one of the best-selling music artists of all time in Taiwan and Hong Kong. A Guinness World Record holder, an Olympic performer, an award-winning actor, a philanthropist at heart and much more – Cheung has been an unstoppable force all his life. Let’s dive into his road to stardom, unravelling many interesting facts about his life.
10 facts about Jacky Cheung, Hong Kong’s Heavenly Cantopop King
1. Jacky Cheung originally worked as a reservation officer at Cathay Pacific
A Literary College graduate, Cheung started his career as a reservation officer for Cathay Pacific Airlines. Little did he know that his fate was about to turn around soon. Cheung tried his luck at the Amateur 18-Hong Kong district singing contest in 1984, winning the title by ousting 10,000 other contestants. He was then signed by Universal Music Group, entering the cutthroat Cantopop world then dominated by Leslie Cheung, Alan Tam, Anita Mui and Danny Chan. He eventually carved his space, emerging as the most popular singer in Asia in the 90s.
2. Jacky Cheung broke a Guinness World Record in 2012
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Cheung’s fame reached new heights in 2012 when he set the Guinness World record for the largest combined audience for a live act in 12 months. This happened during the artist’s Jacky Cheung 1/2 Century World Tour, which attracted more than two million people towards 100+ live concerts across 61 cities.
3. He shot to international stardom with his 1993 album, The Goodbye Kiss
Jacky Cheung’s ticket to international fame was his 1993 album, Goodbye Kiss. The 10-track album in Mandarin Chinese sold more than 5 million copies in just its release year, making it one of the best-selling Chinese music albums of all time. With Goodbye Kiss, Cheung became the first non-Taiwanese singer to win Taiwan’s Golden Melody Award for Song of the Year. This album not only helped him break through in the Mandopop scene but was instrumental in establishing him as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop.
Over the years, the album’s title track has been covered by multiple musicians like Jay Chou, Hu Yanbin and more. Danish soft rock band Michael Learns to Rock even covered it in English in 2004.
4. He unwittingly helped police track several fugitives at his concerts across mainland
Back in 2018, Cheung got the nickname ‘Fugitive Bait’ or ‘Fugitives’ Kryptonite’ in China. But why? Bizarrely, his concert attracted criminals on the run, who bought tickets to see him perform live. During the Chinese leg of his global tour, around 60 fugitives were reportedly caught. Now isn’t that incredible?
5. The artist is a dedicated Buddhist and vegetarian
Jacky Cheung is a dedicated Buddhist and vegetarian, who’s even raising his daughters with Buddhist philosophy. Appearing on a Hong Kong news programme (via 8days), Cheung said that he’s not a strict parent and uses a ‘Buddhist-style’ philosophy to raise his two girls, who consider him a ‘friend’. While Cheung’s vegetarianism isn’t as famous as Andy Lau’s in the entertainment world, he has been a vegetarian for longer than Lau.
6. He was named ‘the most popular Asian performer in the world’ at the 2006 Asian Games
Among his many career milestones, Cheung performed live the theme song Together Now at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar. At the games, he was introduced as ‘the most popular Asian performer in the world’. And rightfully so! Apart from the Asian Games, Cheung has also lent his voice to various promotional tracks for the 2010 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2012 London Olympics.
7. Jacky Cheung is married to former Hong Kong actress May Lo Mei-wei
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Jacky Cheung and former HK actress May Lo Mei-wei’s love story began in 1986 on the sets of Devoted to You, a romantic film starring the duo as leads. A decade-long affair later, they tied the knot in London in 1996. Cheung and Wei share two daughters, Zoe Cheung Yiu-wah and Zia Cheung Yiu-huen. While he might be a superstar to the world, at home, Cheung is a doting husband and father. In the same 2022 interview with a Hong Kong outlet, Cheung said he participates actively in the housework, further praising his wife for her culinary skills.
He also talked about how he raised his two daughters. “I mostly just give them my opinion, and it’s up to them whether they want to accept it or not,” he said. While Cheung has his own perceptions of how to dress, speak or what one’s future should be like, the actor mentioned that he won’t force his opinions on his children.
8. He’s one of the richest Hong Kong actors with a net worth of USD 50 million
Cheung is one of the richest Hong Kong actors of all time, falling in line with legends like Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Chow Yun-fat, and more. As of 2024, Jacky Cheung’s net worth is USD 50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Most of his net worth comes from his four decades of music catalogue, including albums, movies, concerts, and more.
9. Jacky Cheung is an acclaimed actor
Cheung forayed into acting in 1986 and won his first major awards including the Hong Kong Film Award and Golden Horse Award just two years later for his work in As Tears Go By. This was followed by a streak of award-winning roles in movies like Bullet in the Head alongside Tony Leung, July Rhapsody co-starring Anita Mui and more. His most recent film outing is the 2024 Hong Kong action project, Customs Frontline, co-starring Nicholas Tse.
Interestingly, he has never starred in a television drama.
10. Cheung actively participates in philanthropy and community work
One of the most interesting facts about Jacky Cheung is his philanthropic streak. A stern believer in giving back to society, Cheung has contributed to many charitable causes. He’s the first Cantopop/ Mandopop artist to contribute to the Hard Rock franchise memorabilia collection. The items are displayed at the Hard Rock Hotel in Macau. Around HKD 600,000 was raised in a joint donation towards the Children’s Cancer Foundation and ORBIS Macau. Moreover, he was also the ambassador of the End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation (ECSAF) back in 2009.
Which of these facts about Jacky Cheung did you find most fascinating?
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Jacky Cheung is regarded as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop. He is an iconic Hong Kong musician and actor who has been in the industry for over four decades.
Yes, Jacky Cheung is still active in the music scene. The singer recently embarked on the 'Jacky Cheung 60+ Concert Tour' which continued in 2024 with shows in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Some of the most famous songs by Jacky Cheung include 'She is Afar', 'Goodbye Kiss' and 'Wishing to Follow You All My Life'.
