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Another sombre cloud has rolled over China’s idol scene this May — but this time, it’s not about disbandments or graduations. It’s something heavier.
Yu ShanShan, affectionately known by fans as Yui, a former first-gen member of GNZ48, has sadly passed away at the age of 24. According to media reports, she was found at her residence earlier this month. The heartbreaking news makes her the third former member from the wider SNH48 Group family to have passed away in recent years.
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Yui made her debut with GNZ48’s Team Z back in 2016 during the group’s founding wave, officially stepping into the idol spotlight during the debut performance of Exclusive Party. Her idol days were short-lived, as she quietly graduated from the group in 2018.
Post-idol life saw her pivot towards a completely different path. Yui reportedly became an English teacher at a junior high school somewhere in China. In a move that many found touching and telling, she chose to keep her past as an idol under wraps, never revealing her entertainment background to her students. She also announced her marriage in recent years, although her husband’s identity remains private.
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Despite stepping away from the spotlight, Yui continued to carry a sense of quiet pride and nostalgia for her time in GNZ48. Her final message — shared via a Supertopic post — was a bittersweet reflection on her memories and emotions throughout her life journey.
While official statements have not gone into full detail, reports suggest she had been facing severe emotional pressures, including postpartum depression, which may have contributed to her untimely passing. Her death is being mourned deeply by longtime fans and former groupmates alike.
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It’s a tragic echo of similar past losses within the SNH48 Group universe — namely Du YuWei from SNH48’s fifth gen and Hu SuKun from the eighth gen — both of whom also reportedly passed under similar emotional circumstances.
Born on 3 October 2000 in Hebei, Yu ShanShan was once a bright young talent in China’s ever-growing idol industry. From stage lights to school halls, she walked through very different worlds in her short life. And though she never returned to the public eye, those who knew her work — both on stage and in the classroom — are now remembering her for the warmth and sincerity she quietly carried.
Quick Facts – Who Was Yu ShanShan (Yui)?
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Born: 3 October 2000, Hebei, China
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GNZ48 Debut: October 2016 (First Gen, Team Z)
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Graduated: 2018
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Post-Idol Life: English teacher, married, private life
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Passed Away: May 2025 (aged 24)
Rest easy, Yui. Your stage might’ve dimmed, but your light hasn’t gone unnoticed.