Director Chen Lihua has passed away, media visits China Rosewood Museum: Free admission today

On April 7th, Fuhua International Group issued an obituary, announcing that Chen Lihua, Honorary Chairwoman of Fuhua International Group and Director of the Chinese Rosewood Museum, passed away due to illness that proved unresponsive, on April 5, 2026, in Beijing at the age of 85.

Portrait and painting of Chen Lihua hanging in the rear hall on the first floor of the Chinese Rosewood Museum

The official obituary states: Director Chen Lihua’s life was brilliant and illustrious. She served as a member of the 8th to 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Overseas Chinese Committee of the 11th and 12th CPPCC, and received numerous honors including the United Nations “Outstanding Asian Woman Lifetime Achievement Award.” As an outstanding female entrepreneur, she founded Fuhua International Group with vision and courage, creating a brilliant enterprise; as a representative of the overseas Chinese community, she was devoted to serving the country and actively participated in national development; as a cultural guardian, she dedicated her life to the protection and inheritance of rosewood art, founding the Chinese Rosewood Museum and the Hengqin branch, making an indelible contribution to promoting Chinese traditional culture. The passing of Director Chen Lihua is a significant loss to the business, cultural, artistic, and overseas Chinese communities.

Chinese Rosewood Museum entrance on April 7th

At noon on April 7th, Red Star News conducted an on-site visit to the Chinese Rosewood Museum in Beijing. The regular ticket price is 50 yuan, but staff informed us that, upon notice, admission was free today.

The museum is filled with Chen Lihua’s paintings. Beneath two portraits of Chen Lihua in the rear hall on the first floor, there is a desk, and a circle of fresh flowers was arranged at the corner of the desk today. Red Star News encountered a friend of Chen Lihua coming to pay respects, who bowed before the portraits.

Today, the museum saw relatively more visitors, many of whom came after hearing the news, including some dressed in plain clothes carrying flowers.

Chen Lihua’s marriage to Chi Chongrui once attracted attention. According to Global People, in 1990, Chen Lihua married Chi Chongrui, who played the role of “Tang Sanzang” in the 1986 version of “Journey to the West,” and who is 11 years younger than her. Chen Lihua loved Peking opera deeply, and it is said they met during a Peking opera event. Their shared hobby brought them together. According to Tianyancha information, Chi Chongrui is currently also the chairman of the Beijing Rosewood Culture Foundation.

Massive information, precise analysis, all on Sina Finance APP

Editor: Liu Wanli SF014