How Did Liu Huan Die? Chinese Singer Who Performed at 2008 Olympics Dies at 63
Chinese singer and music educator Liu Huan died in Shanghai on Sept. 25, 2026, at age 63.
Liu died at 9:52 a.m. local time, surrounded by family members, according to obituaries released September 26 by the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), where he taught for more than three decades, and the Mango V Foundation. Xinhua likewise reported that he died of an illness.
What Was Liu Huan’s Cause of Death?
The available official information remains limited. Xinhua reported that Liu Huan died of illness, while UIBE confirmed the time and location of his death but did not identify a particular medical condition.
Liu Huan’s Funeral Arrangements
Liu Huan’s funeral will not include a public farewell ceremony or memorial service.
According to UIBE, the arrangements are being kept simple in accordance with his wishes. The university said there would be no funeral committee, farewell ceremony or memorial service.
Why Was Liu Huan Famous?
Liu Huan became one of China’s best-known singers after emerging in the 1980s. His most recognizable recordings included “Heroes’ Song,” the theme for the 1998 television series The Water Margin, while his career also extended into composition and music education.
His most internationally recognized appearance came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when he performed “You and Me,” the Games’ official theme song, with British soprano Sarah Brightman during the opening ceremony on August 8, 2008.
Liu Huan Was Also a Longtime Music Educator
Away from the stage, Liu spent more than three decades teaching at UIBE. He joined the university in 1991, taught Western music history and retired in September 2023.
His influence also continued through his support for younger musicians. In 2019, he donated 20 million yuan to establish the Liu Huan Original Music Fund with the Mango V Foundation, supporting Chinese-language original music. The foundation said the annual program would continue in accordance with his wishes.
Following his death, UIBE described his passing as “a major loss to both the university and China’s music community.”
Read more
