21st July 2025 – (Xianyang) The Xianyang Intermediate People’s Court in Shaanxi recently disclosed details of a chilling murder case that shook society, involving mainland Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang. Zhang was convicted of intentionally killing his 16-year-old girlfriend after she expressed a desire to end their relationship. He fatally wounded her with a knife and attempted to stage her death as a suicide. Consequently, he was sentenced to death for the crime of murder and was executed by firing squad on December 18 last year, making him the first artist in mainland China’s entertainment industry to be lawfully sentenced to and undergo capital punishment.
According to reports from various local media outlets, the incident took place on 26th February, 2022. On that day, Zhang lured his girlfriend, a 16-year-old girl named Zhang, to a forest in Xingping City under the pretext of celebrating his birthday. An argument ensued between the two due to their relationship issues. Zhang Yiyang then used a folding knife to inflict multiple wounds on her neck, resulting in the severing of her carotid artery and windpipe, leading to her death by mechanical asphyxiation. After the incident, Zhang Yiyang attempted suicide but was unsuccessful and was subsequently arrested by the police.
Authorities highlighted that Zhang Yiyang had long utilized suicide threats to manipulate his girlfriend, exhibiting signs of emotional and psychological paranoia. The motive behind the crime stemmed from accumulated grievances and an inability to accept the reality of the breakup, ultimately culminating in tragedy.
After a thorough court trial, Zhang Yiyang’s actions were deemed brutal, resulting in extremely severe consequences and negative societal impacts. In accordance with the law, he was sentenced to death and the sentence was carried out through a firing squad execution on 18th December last year.
The case’s exposure has sparked intense discussions among mainland Chinese netizens. Numerous individuals have criticised the fact that despite Zhang Yiyang being sentenced to death, he has not been included in the official list of infamous artists. They also questioned the leniency within the entertainment industry, stating that related works are still accessible, highlighting the issue of lax management. Some netizens have raised concerns regarding the varying standards of treatment for artists of different levels within the mainland Chinese entertainment sector, suggesting a double standard.