BEIJING - Three years after dropping out of showbiz, Chinese singer Faye Wong returned to the stage on Sunday, to raise funds for the Sichuan earthquake.
Since her 2005 marriage, the 38-year-old has kept her public appearances only to functions for her Yan Ran Angel Foundation, a charity for children with cleft lips, which she set up with her husband, actor Li Yapeng.
Even recent rumours that concert promoter Live Nation wants to sign her on for a comeback have failed to lure her back on stage.
But, apparently moved by the plight of quake victims, she appeared and sang on China Central Television's televised gala in Beijing, in which some 200 artistes from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland performed.
Dressed casually in a white shirt and jeans, she sang the Teresa Teng hit, Dan Yuan Ren Chang Jiu (May We Last Forever) with singers Eason Chan, Yang Naiwen and Ah Niu.
The performance lasted all of five minutes and fans waited till 11.30pm to see her.
Her manager Katie Chen addressed speculation of a comeback by saying: 'This performance is not a warm-up to a comeback. She has also never talked about retirement.'
Wong reportedly kept a low profile during the rehearsal for the event, shunning interviews.
Singer-actor Nicholas Tse, her old flame, coincidentally performed with singers Wakin Chau, Joey Wong and JJ Lin just before Wong's item. But the two did not meet, reports said.
At the Sunday event, the performers and other well-known figures donated more than 1.5 billion yuan (S$294 million) for quake-hit areas.
Reports said Wong and her husband's Yan Ran Angel Foundation has pledged 5 million yuan towards helping children injured in the quake. The couple have also reportedly donated 1 million yuan of their own funds.
