The Voice of Charity

Type the name Han Hong on any Internet search engine bar and the results will tell you that she is one of the most famous singers in China. But that's not all. The search will also reveal her untiring efforts to help people in need.

Now spending more than half of her time on philanthropic work, the singer, born in the Tibet Autonomous Region in September 1971, enjoys her role as a charity worker much more than being a superstar. Since her professional singing debut in 1995, she has gone on to captivate millions of Chinese with her crystal-clear and powerful voice, becoming one of the country's most popular singers. "I don't like being called a star. I don't like this title," Han, who is loved by her fans not only for her extraordinary talent in singing and composing but also for her forthright character, once told the media. "But I don't mind enjoying the benefits from it [stardom]. I can get people to donate more with this famous face."

The outspoken singer also makes no attempt to conceal her dislike for social events. Despite this, however, she has a busy calendar, singing at business functions and private parties of the rich and famous, all for charity. As the founder of the Han Hong Love Charity Foundation launched in 2012, she has to find ways to reach the deep pockets of the wealthy so that she's able to help more people in need.

Han's commitment to public welfare began in 1999. Her hit song that year, Daybreak, is based on a true story - a tragic cable car accident in southwest China's Guizhou Province, where a father used his last ounce of strength to save his son before he died. His wife too was killed in the mishap.

"It was immensely touching, showing a father's incomparable love for his son," said Han, who herself lost her father at the age of five.

Later, she wrote a song about the cable car accident and it became a massive hit and a milestone in her music career. But less well-known is the fact that she has been supporting the orphaned boy financially.

"My gut feeling told me the boy would need help and my instinct told me I must be the one to help him," said Han.

Her focus changed to philanthropy and her stay with the boy strengthened her determination to help other children in similar plight. In the following decade, Han, who remains single, had helped nearly 300 children.

"I do not have children of my own. But I regard these children as mine," she said.

To better help more people in emergencies, she established a rescue team. Active since 2008, the team has undertaken rescue and relief work at all subsequent major earthquake sites in China, taking medicines, food and water to victims in Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan. It also helps to rebuild local schools destroyed in tremors.

Han also ran campaigns to help people in remote and poverty-stricken areas in Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. Last August, she embarked on a journey to northwest China's Qinghai Province with 100 volunteers to provide medical services to the impoverished locals.

"I was happy to see more celebrities join the team and I believe the positive spin-offs of celebrity status are something that China's charities need."  Han admits that philanthropy in China is regarded with very skeptical eyes by the public, whose trust has been shattered by corruption scandals in some large and well-known charitable organizations over recent years. Even Han herself has had the experience of being deceived by some charities. Hence came the idea of establishing a foundation in her own name, which she could control and ensure it remains "completely clean."

It is rare in China for a celebrity to put his or her neck on the line in this way. As always, Han is frank, "If my colleagues are corrupt, I'm the one who will go to jail, but I have the courage to take that chance."

Her wish is that China's charities can eventually regain public trust. It is a long road, but she said she's ready for the challenge.

In the early days of her career, Han used to dream of dying under the spotlight as a great singer, singing until her last breath. But now, in her 40s, she has a different outlook. "I would like to die while fulfilling my charity goals," she said.