Angela Zhang

Angela Zhang Shao-han (traditional Chinese: 張韶涵; simplified Chinese: 张韶涵; pinyin: Zhāng Shàohán; born 19 January 1982), also known as Angela Chang, is a Taiwanese and Canadian singer and actress.

Zhang gained recognition with the Taiwanese television dramas My MVP Valentine (2002) and At Dolphin Bay (2003). Since 2004, following the instant success of her first album, Over the Rainbow, she has focused on her singing career, releasing popular albums like Aurora (2004) and Pandora (2006), along with starring in another hit TV drama, Romantic Princess (2007). Her career was derailed in 2008 by a public row with her family, which was further worsened by a falling out with her label, Linfair Records. She did not revive her career until the Hunan TV reality show Singer 2018, where she participated as both a host and contestant. Since then, she has shifted her focus to mainland China.

Zhang has embarked on seven concert tours since her debut, including three stadium tours. Her Fable World Tour (2019–2024) spanned 36 shows across mainland China and attracted over one million people.

Early life

Zhang was born into a Hakka family from Zhongli, Taoyuan, Taiwan, as the eldest of three children. She has a sister, Connie Chang Shao-hsuan, and a brother, Carson Chang Po-yu, who is the youngest of the three. Zhang's maternal grandfather was ethnic Uyghur of Taoyuan in Changde, from the Jian family descended from Uyghur Buddhist general Hala Bashi who came to Taoyuan in Changde over 600 years ago, she is related to Jian Bozan, with the rest of her family Hakka. At the age of ten, Zhang moved to Singapore to study. After a few months, she returned to Taiwan because she "was not able to adapt (to life) there". At 12, she and her family migrated to Vancouver, where she attended Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School. She moved back to Taiwan at 19.[citation needed]

Career

Early Career (2002-2007)

Zhang gained recognition in 2002 when played a leading role in the Taiwanese television drama My MVP Valentine with Taiwanese boy band 5566, followed by a leading role in another Taiwanese television drama At Dolphin Bay with Taiwanese actor Wallace Huo, in which she also sang the ending theme song "The Beautiful Days We Lost" (遺失的美好) and "Journey", a cover of Corrinne May's 2001 song.

Zhang first signed with Linfair Records, making her music debut. She released her first two albums, Over the Rainbow (Chinese: 飛越彩虹) and Aurora (Chinese: 歐若拉), in 2004, and her third album, Pandora (Chinese: 潘朵拉), in 2006.

In 2007, Zhang released her fourth and fifth albums, Flower in the Wonderland (Chinese: 夢裡花) and Ang 5.0. She played in another TV drama, Romantic Princess, and sang the theme song "Don't Want to Understand" (Chinese: 不想懂得).

Career hiatus and setback (2008-2012)

Zhang took a break from her career in early 2008 and went to Canada for medical treatment. In June 2008, Zhang became a torchbearer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Between 2008 and 2009, she was embroiled in a highly publicized dispute with her family, which led her to sever ties with her parents. A series of allegations made by her family, though unverified, significantly disrupted her career.

Zhang released her 6th album, The 5th Season, in 2009. In 2010, Zhang became a spokesperson of Shanghai Expo 2010 and sang the theme song "The Window of the City". Zhang performed at the first Formula 1 Festival in Shanghai.

Zhang and her younger sister started a new talent agency, Tianhan Music (Chinese: 天涵音乐), in 2012 and continued her career focusing on the market in mainland China.

Personal life

Health issues

In 2008, Zhang was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and went to Canada for medical treatment while taking a short break from her career.

Family conflicts and estrangement

During her career hiatus in 2008 for medical treatment, Zhang found out that her mother, who has been her manager since her debut, emptied her savings. In 2009, Zhang was accused by her parents of neglect, while she disputed the accusation. The parents later accused her of drug use, and she later had to come out with a negative drug test to clear her name. That year, she said in an interview that she has cut ties with her parents.

As a result of her family conflict, she has shifted her career focus to mainland China and resides in Shanghai as of June 2023.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Collaborations

Concert tours

• Angela Chang Concert Live (2006–2008)
• Angela Singing on Pandora World Tour (2010)
• 100% Angela Zhang World Tour (2015–2018)
• Journey World Tour (2018–2019)
• Fable World Tour (2019–2024)
• Angela Zhang World Tour (2024–2025)
• Seek For Light World Tour (2025–present)

Filmography

Feature films

Television

Music programs and variety shows

Special programs

Awards and nominations

External links

• on Weibo (in Chinese)
• on Instagram