A pop star who never gave up his day job
Liu Huan has spent close to four decades as one of the most recognizable voices in Chinese music, and for most of that time he's also kept a university teaching post — for years lecturing on the history of Western music at what's now the Beijing University of International Business and Economics. It's an unusual combination for someone widely referred to at home as the "King of Chinese Pop," and it's part of what's made him such a durable, respected figure rather than a passing chart phenomenon.
Born in Tianjin in 1963 into a family of teachers, Liu graduated from Beijing's Institute of International Relations in 1985 with a degree in French — not music. His entry into performing came almost by accident, through a singing contest held at the French Embassy in Beijing, which put him in front of an audience for the first time and set his unofficial career in motion around 1985 to 1987.
The TV theme songs that made him a household name
What actually built Liu's fame wasn't a hit single in the Western sense — it was a steady run of theme songs for some of China's biggest television dramas through the late 1980s and 1990s. Beijingers in New York, Sunrise East, Rain West, The Third Legion, and Hu Xueyan all carried his voice into households across the country, and by the 1990s he was widely considered the decade's leading pop singer in China.
One of those songs, "Heroes' Song" (Haohan Ge), from a television adaptation of the classic novel Water Margin, became one of the most enduringly recognizable pieces of Chinese pop culture from that era — the kind of song that's stayed in the public consciousness decades after the show it was written for aired.
A duet watched by billions
Liu's highest-profile single moment came in 2008, when he performed "You and Me" alongside British soprano Sarah Brightman at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics — a duet broadcast to an estimated global audience in the billions and one of the most-watched performances of his career by a wide margin. Nearly two decades earlier, in 1990, he'd had a similar moment of national significance performing "Mighty Winds of Asia" with singer Wei Wei for the Beijing Asian Games, a song that captured the optimism of that period.
From performer to mentor
In the 2010s, Liu shifted a good deal of his public presence toward developing other artists. He was a coach on the first season of The Voice of China in 2012, later returned as the winning mentor on Sing! China (the show's rebranded second season), and in 2014 spearheaded Sing My Song, a competition built specifically around original songwriting rather than covers.
He came back to performing competitively himself in 2019, entering Hunan TV's long-running Singer show and winning that season — a result made more resonant by the song choice for his final performance, a medley dedicated to Yao Beina, a former Voice of China contestant who had died several years earlier. The tribute reportedly earned a standing ovation from the show's 500-member judging panel.
That same year, Liu founded the Liu Huan Original Music Fund, a philanthropic initiative built to financially support emerging Chinese singer-songwriters — continuing the same emphasis on original music that Sing My Song had put at its center.
A new chapter with Universal Music
Liu's most significant recent move came through a business deal rather than a performance: Universal Music Greater China announced an exclusive, multi-year global agreement with him covering both his recording and publishing rights — the first time the majority of his body of work has been consolidated under a single umbrella. UMGC framed the deal as an effort to preserve his musical legacy while extending his reach to international audiences.
"I am confident that this collaboration will not only enhance the reach of my works but will also enable them to resonate more powerfully and widely," Liu said of the partnership, adding that he saw it as aligned with a long-standing goal of sharing Chinese music and culture globally.
Beyond the music
Liu has also lent his profile to wildlife conservation work, serving as an ambassador for WildAid on efforts related to sharks, rhinos, and tigers — one more example of a career built less around chasing individual hits and more around a sustained, multi-decade public presence across teaching, mentorship, philanthropy, and advocacy alongside the music itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Liu Huan?
Liu Huan is a Chinese singer and songwriter, widely known in China as the "King of Chinese Pop," with a music career spanning four decades since the mid-1980s.
What is Liu Huan best known for?
He's best known for theme songs from major Chinese television dramas including Beijingers in New York and Water Margin, as well as performing a duet with Sarah Brightman at the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.
Does Liu Huan have a teaching career?
Yes. Alongside his music career, he has taught the history of Western music at the Beijing University of International Business and Economics.
What TV talent shows has Liu Huan been part of?
He coached on The Voice of China, was a winning mentor on Sing! China, created the original-songwriting competition Sing My Song, and won Hunan TV's Singer competition in 2019 as a contestant.
What is Liu Huan's recent deal with Universal Music?
Universal Music Greater China signed an exclusive, multi-year global agreement with Liu Huan covering both his recording and publishing rights, aimed at expanding his international reach.
