Veteran actor Li Baotian, 79, now lives quietly in Rongcheng, Shandong, a slow-paced coastal town matching his wish for a peaceful life away from industry disputes.
Li Baotian, a 79-year-old veteran actor, has chosen to settle in Rongcheng, Shandong, in recent years.
In his
early career, Li Baotian once turned down a commercial endorsement deal worth as much as 20 million yuan. He also became embroiled in disputes with more than a dozen partners over the protection of his rights, leading to a collective blacklisting by the industry. Even director Zhang Yimou once publicly praised him as one of the actors in China who most cherishes creative principles.
Few would have imagined that Li Baotian—who had refused to compromise throughout his career—would choose to settle in such a small coastal town in his later years.
Li Baotian and his wife Hu Ying have been married for over fifty years without a single rumor of infidelity. In raising their son, Li Yu, he has always insisted that he forge his own path and never rely on his parents’ connections to gain advantages in the entertainment industry. Later, Li Baotian gradually turned down all acting roles and variety show invitations, unwilling to get caught up in the industry’s various disputes.
His final choice of Rongcheng was simply because the pace of life there is leisurely and peaceful, perfectly aligning with his current desire to spend his twilight years in seclusion—a decision made without the slightest hesitation.
Don’t be swayed by the gimmicks of retirement destinations promoted by influencers—there’s no one-size-fits-all standard for choosing where to settle down. If you’ve always preferred peace and quiet, there’s no need to force yourself to join the hustle and bustle of commercial districts; and if you and your partner have spent many years together and grown accustomed to a simple life, there’s no need to go out of your way to chase after all sorts of flashy “travel-living” concepts.Simply being
able to spend peaceful days with family, eating meals and basking in the sun as usual, is already a wonderful life.
Deep down, everyone has their own personal haven of peace and stability.
