When news broke that Chinese actor Yu Menglong had died at the age of 37, fans around the world were left with more questions than answers. On September 11, 2025, the star of The Legend of White Snake fell from a building in Beijing, setting off a chain of official statements, online speculation, and unresolved contradictions. Here’s what we know about his life, his final projects, and the controversy that still surrounds his death.
Born: 15 June 1988 ·
Died: 11 September 2025 ·
Age at death: 37 ·
Known for: The Legend of White Snake, Love Game in Eastern Fantasy
Quick snapshot
- Born 15 June 1988 in Urumqi, Xinjiang (Wikipedia (biography database))
- Chinese actor and singer (Wikipedia)
- Also known as Alan Yu (Wikipedia)
- Began as contestant on 2013 Super Boy (Wikipedia)
- Known for The Legend of White Snake (2019) (Wikipedia)
- Last drama Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (2024) (Wikipedia)
- Died 11 September 2025 in suspected fall (IMDb (entertainment database))
- Age 37 (Wikipedia)
- Alcohol and drugs found in system (Wikipedia)
- Official investigation ongoing (Wikipedia)
- Conspiracy theories link death to Beijing Art Museum (Reddit (social discussion board))
- Public scrutiny and online campaigns (HK01 (Hong Kong news outlet))
Eight key facts about Yu Menglong, drawn from the available records:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Yu Menglong ( ) |
| Born | 15 June 1988 |
| Died | 11 September 2025 |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 2013–2025 |
| Notable works | The Legend of White Snake, Love Game in Eastern Fantasy |
| Cause of death | Fall from building (official, pending toxicology report) |
What is Yu Menglong best known for?
Yu Menglong first caught the public eye during the 2013 Super Boy competition, but it was his role as Xu Xian in the 2019 romantic fantasy drama The Legend of White Snake that made him a household name in China. The series, based on a classic folk tale, drew millions of viewers and established him as a leading man in the costume drama genre.
His breakthrough role in The Legend of White Snake
- Played Xu Xian opposite Ju Jingyi, earning critical praise for his gentle portrayal (Wikipedia (biography database))
- The drama achieved high ratings and streaming records in 2019 (Wikipedia)
- Widely credited as his career-defining work (Wikipedia)
Other notable dramas and films
- Starred in The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020), a time-travel romantic comedy (IMDb (entertainment database))
- Appeared in The Queen of Attack (2022) and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (2024) (Wikipedia)
- Made brief appearances in films like Love Without Distance (2021) (IMDb)
Music career
- Released singles after his Super Boy days, including Ni de Wenrou (Your Tenderness) (Wikipedia (biography database))
- Contributed vocal tracks to several drama soundtracks (Wikipedia)
- Performed at Chinese music festivals and variety shows (Wikipedia)
The implication: Yu Menglong’s career was squarely in romantic fantasy — a niche that built a passionate fanbase but also meant his fame stayed mostly within Chinese-language markets. That fanbase would later drive much of the online reaction to his death.
What was Yu Menglong’s last drama?
His final completed drama was Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, released in 2024. The series, a blend of romance and virtual reality, featured him as a key supporting character. At the time of his death, he was reportedly attached to at least one unannounced project, though no details have been publicly confirmed.
Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (2024)
- Co-starred with Esther Yu and Ding Yuxi in a fantasy romance about a gamer trapped inside a game world (Wikipedia (biography database))
- Aired on iQiyi and received moderate viewership across Asia (Wikipedia)
- Marketing materials highlighted his character’s emotional arc (IMDb (entertainment database))
Yu Menglong’s last drama aired less than a year before his death, meaning fans had barely finished watching his final performance before the news broke. The timing amplified the emotional shock across his support base.
Posthumous releases and unfinished projects
- No posthumous releases have been announced as of December 2025 (Wikipedia)
- Reports on Chinese social media mentioned he was in talks for a new drama in mid-2025 (Wikipedia (biography database))
The pattern: his filmography is short but concentrated in a single genre. What this means is that his legacy is defined almost entirely by two dramas — a fragile footprint that the controversy now threatens to overshadow.
How did Yu Menglong die?
On 11 September 2025, Yu Menglong died after falling from a building in Chaoyang district, Beijing. His studio confirmed the death the same day and stated that police had ruled out criminal involvement. A later statement attributed to his mother described it as an alcohol-related accidental fall.
The fall from a building
- Incident occurred at a residential building in Chaoyang, Beijing (Wikipedia (biography database))
- Emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene (IMDb (entertainment database))
- Initial media reports cited “fall from height” as cause (HK01 (Hong Kong news outlet))
Official investigation findings
- Beijing police investigated and ruled out criminal suspicion (Independent Commentary / CW (Taiwan-based analysis site))
- Police also announced action against three individuals for spreading rumors (Independent Commentary / CW)
- The official explanation was that he died after drinking alcohol and falling accidentally (Mimeta (arts censorship watchdog))
Alcohol and drugs reported in system
- Initial reports indicated that alcohol and drugs were found in his system (Wikipedia (biography database))
- The toxicology report has not been publicly released, leaving the extent of substance involvement unverified (HK01 (Hong Kong news outlet))
The catch: the official narrative relies on a single toxicology reference that has not been made public. Without full transparency, the vacuum invited the very rumors the police action was meant to stop.
Is Yu Menglong married?
Yu Menglong never publicly married. Throughout his career, he kept his personal life largely out of the spotlight, and no confirmed spouse or long-term partner has been identified in any credible source.
Relationship status
- No marriage records or public announcements (Wikipedia (biography database))
- He did not discuss relationships in interviews (Wikipedia)
Past rumors
- Rumors briefly linked him to co-star Ju Jingyi around 2019, but neither party confirmed (Reddit (social discussion board))
By keeping his private life off the record, Yu Menglong preserved control over his personal image — but also left a void that unverified gossip rushed to fill after his death. For fans seeking closure, the silence around his relationships adds another layer of mystery.
The implications are clear: his private life remains a mystery that fuels speculation.
What is the controversy surrounding Yu Menglong’s death?
Within hours of the news, Chinese social media platforms erupted with doubts. The core objection: the official explanation was too brief and lacked supporting evidence such as surveillance footage or a detailed police report. This gap fueled allegations of a cover-up and connected his death to the nearby Beijing Art Museum.
Allegations of a cover-up
- Critics noted the studio statement contradicted earlier police remarks about the scene (Independent Commentary / CW (Taiwan-based analysis site))
- Some netizens questioned why a detailed case file was not released (Independent Commentary / CW)
- Alleged “media blackout” on certain platforms raised censorship suspicions (Mimeta (arts censorship watchdog))
Link to Beijing Art Museum
- Online threads claimed his death was connected to an art exhibition at the Beijing Art Museum (Reddit (social discussion board))
- Theories vary from workplace retaliation to political silencing, but no evidence supports a direct link (Reddit)
Public demands for transparency
- A petition circulated on Weibo asking authorities to release CCTV footage (HK01 (Hong Kong news outlet))
- International news outlets, including WIONews, reported the widespread skepticism (Wikipedia (biography database))
Why this matters: the controversy is less about what happened — a man fell — and more about who controls the narrative. When authorities clamp down on discussion while withholding evidence, they turn every curious observer into an amateur detective.
Timeline signal
- — Birth in Urumqi, Xinjiang (Wikipedia (biography database))
- — Participated in Super Boy singing competition (Wikipedia)
- — Starred in The Legend of White Snake (Wikipedia)
- — Released Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (Wikipedia)
- — Died after falling from a building (IMDb (entertainment database))
- — WIONews investigation article published (Wikipedia)
What’s clear vs. what’s unclear
- Date of birth and death (Wikipedia)
- Occupation as actor and singer (Wikipedia)
- Notable works (Wikipedia)
- He died from a fall (IMDb)
Voices from the story
“Netizens worldwide expressed suspicion over the circumstances of his death.”
— WIONews (international news outlet), December 2025 (source)
“He died in an alcohol-related accidental fall.”
— statement attributed to his mother, reported by HK01 (Hong Kong news outlet)
“Beijing police investigated and ruled out criminal case suspicion.”
— Beijing police statement, via Independent Commentary / CW (Taiwan-based analysis site)
For the millions of fans who grew up watching Yu Menglong’s dramas, the real consequence is not simply losing an actor — it’s losing a clear answer. Without an independent, transparent investigation, the suspicion will persist, and every new rumor will land on a fanbase already primed to mistrust the official story. For the Chinese entertainment industry, the choice is equally stark: release the full findings, or watch this case become a permanent fixture in the gallery of unsolved celebrity deaths.
zh.wikipedia.org, mimeta.org, youtube.com, blog.hamibook.com.tw, youtube.com, rottenmangopodcast.com, dramaforlife.fandom.com
Frequently asked questions
When was Yu Menglong born?
15 June 1988.
Where was Yu Menglong born?
Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
What was Yu Menglong’s age at death?
He was 37 years old.
What are Yu Menglong’s most famous songs?
He released singles like Ni de Wenrou and contributed to several drama soundtracks, though no major hit discography exists outside of his acting work.
Did Yu Menglong have any siblings?
No public information about siblings is available.
What is the official cause of death?
Authorities say he died from an accidental fall after consuming alcohol. A formal toxicology report has not been released to the public.
Are there any memorials for Yu Menglong?
No official memorial events have been announced. Fans have held online tributes on Weibo and other platforms.
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Noah Gagnon is Senior Reporter at Toronto Post, covering breaking Canadian news, municipal affairs and community stories.