Tri Trong Thuy: Tang Monk of the past, now 72 years old, still has to sell his house!

Once the legendary Tang Monk of Journey to the West, Chi Zhongrui at the age of 72 surprised the public when he appeared in the middle of the street to livestream selling a house. His life has been a journey full of ups and downs.

Chi Zhongrui, the name associated with the classic image of Tang Monk in the film Journey to the West (1986), is not only a talented actor but also a character with a life full of ups and downs and unexpected choices. From being born into an artistic family to getting involved in the rosewood business, and especially his marriage to billionaire Tran Le Hoa, Chi Zhongrui has proven that life always has unexpected turns.

Childhood and solid artistic foundation:

Chi Zhongrui was born on December 23, 1952 in Beijing, China, in a family with a tradition of Peking Opera. From a young age, he was exposed to the stage, imbued with the quintessence of this traditional art form. It was this environment that nurtured his passion and planted the seeds of artistic talent in him from a very early age.

In 1981, Chi Zhongrui graduated from the Shanghai Drama Academy, one of China's leading actor training centers. His formal background and in-depth knowledge of acting equipped him with the necessary skills, creating a solid foundation for his later memorable roles.

The glorious halo from Journey to the West:

The biggest turning point in Chi Zhongrui's career came in 1986, when director Yang Jie entrusted him with the role of Tang Monk in the classic TV series "Journey to the West". This was a special opportunity, because two actors had previously taken on the role but later left the crew.

Although he only appeared in 17 episodes, with his elegant face, calm demeanor and dignified demeanor, Chi Zhongrui brilliantly transformed into the character of Tang Monk. The image of a gentle, kind and steadfast master on his journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures has been deeply engraved in the minds of millions of Asian audiences. Many people even affectionately call him "the most handsome Tang Monk" in the history of Chinese television, affirming the great influence of this role on Chi Zhongrui's career.

Turning to rosewood profession:
After the resounding success of "Journey to the West", many people thought that Tri Trong Thuy would continue to take advantage of the popularity of the role to develop his acting career. However, he made a surprising decision to withdraw from the film set to pursue another passion: the art of rosewood.

In 1999, Tri Trong Thuy and his wife, businesswoman Tran Le Hoa, founded the Chinese Rosewood Museum. This is a place to preserve, display and introduce precious rosewood artworks, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the value of this traditional craft. By 2003, the museum was recognized as a national 4-star tourist area, demonstrating the serious investment and vision of the couple.

Marriage with billionaire Tran Le Hoa:

Chi Zhongshui’s life became even more special when he married billionaire Tran Le Hoa. The two met in 1988 and officially became a family in 1990. At that time, Chi Zhongshui was 38 years old, and Tran Le Hoa was 11 years older than him.

Tran Le Hoa is a self-made businesswoman, the chairwoman of Phu Hoa Group and owns a huge fortune, estimated at more than 55 billion NDT (equivalent to about 7.7 billion USD). The difference in age and especially social status has made their marriage the focus of public attention.

However, despite all the gossip, Tri Trong Thuy and Tran Le Hoa have lived happily together for more than 30 years, proving that true love can overcome all barriers. Mutual respect is the key to their lasting relationship. He respectfully calls his wife "Chairman", while she calls him "Mr. Tri", a form of address that shows respect and deep affection.

The dark corners behind the halo:

Despite his seemingly perfect life, Tri Trong Thuy also had to face a lot of gossip and social pressure. Ever since he married Tran Le Hoa, a woman 11 years older than him, who had a child and owned a huge fortune, he was called an exploiter or a "high-class son-in-law". Public opinion once doubted that his feelings were selfish, despite evidence of his loyalty and devotion to his wife for more than three decades.

Besides, his artistic career almost stopped after the role of Tang Monk. When he reappeared after many years, the audience seemed to only remember one image - Tang Monk of Journey to the West, which caused him to be confined to one role, without the opportunity to develop more in acting.

72-year-old "Tang Monk" still livestreams selling houses:
In June 2025, Chi Zhongrui once again surprised the public when he appeared in a livestream introducing a luxury real estate project in the center of Beijing. Despite being 72 years old, he still dressed neatly, stood on the street introducing each house, and spoke fluently as if reciting Buddhist scriptures. The "Le Uyen Thai Hoa" project he introduced had a selling price of 50 to 100 billion VND/unit, showing the scale and value of the products he was marketing.

The image of Tang Monk with a kind face, now standing in front of the livestream camera to sell a house has created a wave of debate on Chinese social networks. Many people could not help but exclaim: "Even Tang Monk of Nu Nhi Quoc had to sell a house to know how difficult marketing is."

This is an interesting incarnation of Tang Monk in the new era, a Tang Monk who not only goes to collect scriptures but also knows how to market products, demonstrating the dynamism and adaptability of an artist in his twilight years.

Special life and valuable lessons:

From an artist on the Peking Opera stage, Chi Zhongrui became the legendary Tang Monk of the screen, then turned to become a successful businessman in the rosewood industry, and then married one of the richest women in China. At the age of 72, he continues to transform into Tang Monk in a new role in the marketing era, livestreaming to sell houses.

The life of Tri Trong Thuy is not only a special story about career and love but also a profound lesson about human perseverance, adaptability and vitality. No matter the circumstances, he still maintains his identity and leaves his own mark, becoming an indelible symbol in the hearts of the public.

'Tang Tang' Tri Trong Thuy inherited the will of 100 trillion dong left by the rich wife Hoàng Anh08:21:35 20/08/2022If anyone loves Journey to the West, they probably know that after 99.81 accidents, Tang Tang finally got the true scriptures, but few people know that there are 4 people who played the role of Tang Tang, only Tri Trong Thuy's Tang Tang. is to visit the foot sutra. Not only...