CHINESE actress Fan Bingbing was awarded the honorary title of 'Datuk' in Malaysia, after being conferred the Darjah Pangkuan Seri Melaka (D.P.S.M) during an official ceremony in conjunction with the 76th birthday celebration of Melaka’s Governor, Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam.
The prestigious investiture, held at Seri Negeri in Ayer Keroh, saw Fan, 43, honoured alongside 472 other recipients. The recognition was given for her extraordinary contributions in promoting Melaka as a global tourism destination, particularly in China, where her influence has led to a marked increase in tourist arrivals to the state.
Melaka Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusof, in a statement confirmed that the accolade was a reflection of Fan’s strong role in raising the international profile of the historic state.
“Fan Bingbing has introduced Melaka to the world, particularly in China. Her efforts have directly contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals from China,” he was quoted as saying.
Fan was appointed as Melaka’s Tourism Friendship Ambassador in May 2024. Since then, her digital outreach, especially on WeChat, China’s largest social media platform generated more than 1.5 billion online impressions related to Melaka.
As a result, Chinese tourist arrivals to the state saw a dramatic rise from 204,818 in 2023 to 664,687 in 2024, a growth officials largely credited to her efforts.
By receiving the title, Fan joined the ranks of other international icons such as Bollywood star Datuk Shah Rukh Khan and Hong Kong actor Datuk Jackie Chan, both of whom were previously honoured by Malaysia for their contributions to tourism and cultural exchange.
Internationally recognised for her roles in both Eastern and Western cinema, Fan’s career spans decades and genres. She first gained widespread attention through the costume drama My Fair Princess, before achieving greater acclaim with her award-winning performance in Cell Phone, directed by Feng Xiaogang.
She has since appeared in international productions, including the Hollywood superhero film X-Men: Days of Future Past, as well as French and South Korean films.
Fan’s influence also extends far beyond acting. She has been a fashion icon, gracing the covers of magazines such as Time, which named her one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People in 2017.
Her red-carpet appearances, philanthropy, and work in film production have made her a household name across Asia and beyond. Despite her fame, Fan is known to keep her personal life private, a quality that has only heightened public fascination.
The honour bestowed by Melaka was not only a nod to her cinematic accomplishments but also to her effectiveness as a cultural bridge between China and Malaysia.
Her three-day visit to Melaka in June 2024 sparked over 1.2 billion online searches globally, with the keyword “Melaka” alone generating more than 445 million impressions.
After receiving the honorary title, Fan expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm for returning to the state in September for what she described as “new work.”
“I will be here in Melaka next month to promote tourism and will travel here frequently,” she said.
With over 63 million followers on Weibo and 4.1 million on Instagram, Fan’s cultural reach is vast. Often seen as a symbol of Chinese identity and elegance on the world stage, she continues to shape perceptions through both her screen presence and ambassadorial roles.