Wuxia film mogul sparks controversy over plans to have a child at 75

Director Zhang Jizhong, 75, and his wife, 31 years his junior, have drawn mixed reactions after revealing plans to welcome their fifth child.

During a recent livestream, Du Xinglin, 44, who resides in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, announced she is considering having another child. She plans to name a potential son "Dragon Prince."

This announcement instantly made the couple's family plans a trending topic across Chinese social media.

Zhang Jizhong is widely known as "China's wuxia film mogul," celebrated for directing and producing numerous television adaptations of Jin Yong's novels. His notable works include *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer* (2001), *The Legend of the Condor Heroes* (2003), *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils* (2003), *The Return of the Condor Heroes* (2006), *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber* (2009), and *A Deadly Secret* (2014). He also took on various supporting roles in his productions, such as Wang Yuanba in *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer* and Wang Chongyang in *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*.

His wife, Du, previously studied in France, where she earned a doctorate in intellectual property law.

The couple married in 2017 and share three biological children: one son and two daughters. In 10/2024, they welcomed their youngest daughter, nicknamed Xiao Long Chau. Additionally, Zhang and his wife are raising Martin, Du's son from a previous artificial insemination. The 75-year-old director also has adult children from previous marriages.

The 31-year age difference between the couple and their plan for a fifth child has elicited two opposing viewpoints. Supporters argue they possess the financial means and health to make such a decision. Conversely, many express concern over Zhang's age. "They appear to be thinking only of themselves. When the child reaches adulthood, the father may no longer be alive. Is that truly happiness?", one social media user commented.

Following Xiao Long Chau's birth, Zhang declared he would provide his daughter with all possible love and support. Despite this, the family continued to endure ridicule concerning his age. Some netizens even jokingly referred to Zhang as "father-in-law," suggesting they wished to marry Long Chau when she grew up.

Addressing the ongoing debate about a fifth child, Du stated on 8/9 that she is not actively pushing for it, preferring to let nature take its course. She believes each child symbolizes a distinct stage in their marital journey.

"Our family has entered a positive cycle. I am capable of ensuring each child grows up surrounded by love," Du stated, adding that the joy of motherhood outweighs the challenges of pregnancy.

Zhang and Du regularly share their parenting experiences and perspectives on Chinese culture on social media, where they boast over 5,6 million followers.

The public discussion surrounding Zhang's family unfolds as China grapples with a persistent decline in its birth rate. Last year, the nation registered 7,92 million births, a decrease of about 17% from the preceding year.