Chinese actor and singer Yu Menglong, known professionally as Alan Yu, died on September 11 after falling from a building in Beijing’s Chaoyang district. He was 37 years old.
Yu’s management team confirmed his death in a statement posted to Weibo on Thursday. The statement read: “With unbearable sorrow, we announce that our beloved Menglong fell to his death on Sept 11.”
Police have ruled out any criminal activity in connection with Yu’s death, according to multiple reports. The exact circumstances surrounding the fall remain under investigation by Beijing authorities.
According to reports from Chinese entertainment blogger Detective Xiaoyan, Yu was with five to six friends at an apartment on the evening of September 9. The blogger detailed that Yu went to a bedroom around 2 a.m. on September 11 and locked the door from inside. When his friends prepared to leave around 6 a.m., they could not locate him.
Yu’s body was discovered in the building’s courtyard by a passerby walking their dog, who immediately contacted police. The friends had gone downstairs and found Yu’s body outside the building, according to the blogger’s now-deleted social media posts.
Following initial reports of his death, a Red Star News reporter contacted one of Yu’s friends, who expressed surprise at the circulating rumors. The friend indicated that attempts to reach Yu by phone were unsuccessful, as his device was turned off, and he had not responded to WeChat messages or updated his social media in recent days.
Yu was born on June 15, 1988, in Urumqi, in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He initially gained prominence as a singer through talent competitions, participating in “My Show, My Style” in 2007 and the singing contest “Super Boy” in 2013.
His acting career began in 2011 with the short film “The Little Prince,” followed by his transition to television drama in 2014 with “The Loving Home.” Yu became widely recognized for his roles in popular Chinese series including “Go Princess Go” and “Eternal Love,” the latter of which was distributed on Netflix internationally.
Yu also appeared in “The Legend of the White Snake,” “Love Game in Eastern Fantasy,” and “The Moon Brightens You,” where he played the character Lin Fang. His most recent work was in the 2025 series “Feud.” Throughout his career, Yu maintained dual roles as both actor and singer, releasing several music projects alongside his television work.
The actor received recognition for his performances, earning the breakthrough actor of the year award in 2019 at the Golden Bud Network Film and Television Festival for his work in “Xin bai niang zi chuan qi.” He also received the 2018 jury award for newcomer of the year at the Television Series of China Quality Ceremony.
News of Yu’s death spread rapidly across Chinese social media platforms, with fellow actors and colleagues posting tributes. Yang Mi, a prominent Chinese actress, posted a memorial message referring to Yu’s character as “Fourth Brother” from “Eternal Love,” expressing wishes for his peace in another world.
Actress Dilreba also shared memories of Yu on social media, describing him as gentle and sincere both in his role as Bai Zhen and in personal interactions during subsequent show appearances. She noted that he remained kind and gentle throughout their professional relationship.
International fans have expressed concerns about the circumstances surrounding Yu’s death, particularly given the rapid closure of the police investigation. Some reports mention that recent viral videos allegedly containing audio from the apartment have raised questions among fans, though the authenticity of such materials remains unverified.
Yu’s death has prompted discussions among international audiences of Chinese entertainment content, with many fans calling for transparency in the investigation. His work had gained significant following outside of China through streaming platforms and international distribution of Chinese television series.
The entertainment industry in China has faced increased scrutiny in recent years, with several high-profile cases involving tax evasion and other legal issues affecting prominent figures in television and film production.
