Li Yapeng: What's love got to do with it!

By Liu Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-03 10:04

A scene from the TV series which explores the marriage between Xia Xiaoning (Miao Pu) and Qin Yan (Li Yapeng). File photo

Li Yapeng, who has frequently hit the headlines since marrying diva Faye Wong, has his own verdict of what makes a successful union.

"Many people say that love is the basis of marriage but I do not agree," Li declares.

The mainland actor stars in a new TV series, Our Marriage (Womenliang de Hunyin), which debuted yesterday on CCTV Channel 8.

The 28-episode drama follows the union between Qin Yan, a scholar working in a museum, and Xia Xiaoning, a TV reporter. They face issues most Chinese couples have to confront, like children, loyalty and the relationship between mothers and daughters-in-law.

Li, who plays Qin, the main character, reckons marriage is a complicated connection of not only two lovers, but two sets of parents, friends and relatives.

"Love is like a chemical material, which changes easily. A marriage based only on love is not stable," he says. "We need at least love, trust, responsibility and wisdom to deal with such a complex relationship."

Li has made the headlines in recent years, largely due to his 2005 marriage to Wong.

The marriage has been in the spotlight from the start and interest intensified when their daughter was born with a cleft lip. Two months ago Li attacked a Hong Kong paparazzo who was taking photos of the baby in a Thai airport. He apologized soon after, saying violence was wrong, but also insisted "family is bottom line".

"Children make a true marriage," he says. "I used to stay at work until it was all done, even if my leg was broken. But now, if my daughter calls, I go home right away, no matter how important the work is."

Besides the problems his celebrity status brings him, Li has to deal with everyday problems like any man, such as loyalty and the relationship between his mother and wife, a headache of most Chinese husbands.

Li says he and Wong never check each other's mobile phone - he believes trust and privacy help build a firm relationship - and says he is a lucky man, who has a good mother and wife at the same time.

"Despite what people might think, Wong is actually a very simple person, like a child," he says. "My mother is very educated and reasonable, too. Even so, we do have small rubs in daily life, but when problems occur, I always choose to face them rather than step away."

Although the show reveals many unpleasant sides to marriage, Li says he does not intend to scare young people off tying the knot. "The message I want the show to convey is not to fear marriage, but to know it better. Think well before you choose it and love it well after you choose it."

Director Li Ziren says he wanted to provoke people's thoughts on marriage while at the same time telling a good story.

"Many people have experienced marriage," he says. "But few of them have the ability to summarize or think about what marriage is."

(China Daily 09/03/2008 page18)