Extravagant Chinese TV host Li Xiang mingles with royalty, spends US$10,000 on food
A popular Chinese television host has sparked fresh online controversy after it was revealed that the sticky rice dumplings she ate during the Dragon Boat Festival cost 1,000 yuan (US$140) each.
Li Xiang, 49, who was born in Hunan province, central China, first rose to fame in 1997 as the host of the hit variety show Happy Camp.
In the 2000s, she won the Most Popular Host award three times and received the Golden Mic Award, the highest honour for television anchors and hosts in China.
Li Xiang enjoys mixing with the rich and famous. Here she is chatting with Britain's Queen Camilla. Photo: Weibo
As her popularity soared, Li diversified her career into acting, singing, real estate business and e-commerce. In 2019, the value of her monthly online sales exceeded 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million).
She reportedly owns a 666-square-metre, 50 million yuan (US$7 million) villa in Beijing and has bought multiple properties in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan province.
During this year's Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional holiday celebrated with boat races and the eating of sticky rice dumplings known as zongzi, Li posted photos on social media.
Television celebrity Li reportedly owns a villa in Beijing worth US$7 million. Photo: Weibo
They showed a luxurious meal with her daughter, Angela Wang Shiling, at a high-end restaurant, which featured zongzi elegantly arranged on delicate porcelain plates.
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