Executed For Murder: The Dark Story Of A Chinese Singer

Chinese actor and singer Zhang Yiyang, aged 33 at the time of his death, was executed by firing squad on December 18, 2024, for the brutal murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend in February 2022. The case, detailed in a recent investigation report by the Intermediate People’s Court of Xianyang City in Shaanxi Province, marks the first known instance of a Chinese celebrity receiving the death penalty for a violent crime, sending shockwaves through the entertainment industry and sparking widespread public debate.

According to court documents, Zhang Yiyang, born May 1, 1990, in Xingping, Shaanxi, lured his underage girlfriend, identified only by her surname Zhang, to a remote forest near Xingping City on February 26, 2022, under the pretense of celebrating his birthday. The couple, who had been dating since September 2021 when the victim was 15, got into a heated argument after she expressed her desire to end the relationship.

In a fit of rage, Zhang attacked her with a folding knife, stabbing her multiple times in the neck. The assault severed her carotid artery, jugular vein, windpipe, and esophagus, causing her death due to massive bleeding and asphyxiation. The court described the act as “extremely violent, deliberate, and socially harmful.”

Zhang attempted to cover up the crime by staging the scene to resemble a suicide. He returned home by taxi, changed his clothes, and disposed of the bloodied garments and the victim’s mobile phone in a nearby reservoir. The following day, Zhang checked into a hotel in Xingping and attempted to take his own life with the same knife. Hotel staff intervened, alerting authorities, and Zhang was arrested shortly after.

Zhang was charged with intentional homicide, one of the most serious offenses under Chinese law. During the trial at the Xianyang Intermediate People’s Court, prosecutors highlighted Zhang’s pattern of emotional abuse and psychological manipulation, including repeated threats of suicide to prevent the victim from leaving him. The court noted that Zhang exhibited “paranoid emotional and psychological conditions” and a strong desire for control, with the motive for the crime stemming from his inability to accept the breakup.

Despite his appeals to the provincial High Court and the Supreme People’s Court, the death sentence was upheld. Zhang was executed by firing squad, a method still permitted in China, on December 18, 2024. The execution was not publicly disclosed at the time, only coming to light in July 2025 when court documents surfaced, prompting significant media coverage and public reaction.

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Zhang Yiyang, also known by his stage name Gui Zai, was a relatively obscure figure in China’s entertainment industry, often referred to as an “18th-tier” actor—a term for performers with minor roles and limited fame. He debuted in 2012 on the reality show Happy to Move, where he placed third, and went on to release several albums, including Crying Man (2015), with songs like “I Only Care About People Who Care About Me” and “So Care About You.”

His acting career included minor roles in low-budget web series and TV dramas, such as The Soul of the Dragon, and he trained under Hong Kong director Li Wenlong. Zhang also participated in events like the Tangshan 2017 Lei Feng Spring Festival Gala and CCTV’s Charm China Tour. Despite his modest success, he had garnered a small but growing fanbase.

The case has ignited intense debate on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and Douban. Many netizens expressed outrage over the continued availability of Zhang’s works, particularly the film The Sound of Music (also known as Jieyou Sound Hall), which premiered posthumously in March 2025.

Unlike other celebrities involved in scandals, Zhang was not added to China’s official “bad artist” blacklist, and his works remain accessible on streaming platforms, drawing criticism for perceived double standards in the entertainment industry. On Douban, users bombarded the film’s page with one-star ratings, condemning its release given Zhang’s crime.

The execution of Zhang Yiyang marks a grim milestone in China’s entertainment industry, serving as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent crime, even for public figures. As the public continues to grapple with the case, it remains a focal point for discussions about justice, celebrity culture, and societal values in modern China.