On Sept. 11, 2025, Chinese actor Yu Menglong died under mysterious circumstances. Although police reported his death as an accidental fall after drinking, speculation of foul play has continued to spread online. The case has taken an even stranger turn: residents of the apartment complex where the incident occurred are reportedly rushing to sell their homes. As one netizen bluntly put it, “Everyone’s afraid of being silenced.”
On Sept. 23, 2025, less than two weeks after actor Yu Menglong’s mysterious death, a wave of sell-offs erupted at the Sunshine Upper East residential compound in Beijing, where the tragedy occurred. The upscale community — home to celebrities and tycoons — is known for its tight security, requiring access cards or facial recognition at the gates and offering 24-hour patrols.
Real estate vloggers showcased the luxury of the apartments: a 246-square-meter high-rise unit with sweeping views of Chaoyang Park, expansive living rooms with double exposure, panoramic windows with 270-degree lighting, and kitchens overlooking both the Ba River and the distant Western Hills. “Living here is like walking inside a painting,” one presenter remarked.
Yet online reactions were chilling rather than envious. Comments flooded in: “Now everyone has seen it — who would dare live here?” “How’s the mortality rate?” “You move in standing up, and get carried out lying down.” Others quipped about ghosts at the dinner table or waking up to find oneself hanging outside the window. Though couched in dark humor, the remarks alluded unmistakably to suspicions that Yu Menglong did not die by accident.
In a highly unusual move, homeowners in Sunshine Upper East appear to be rushing to offload their properties. According to data shared on Zhihu, 93 listings at sharply reduced prices were posted on September 23. By the next day, the number reportedly jumped to 157 — with observers asking how high it would climb tomorrow.
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Some sellers sounded almost desperate. One listing read: “Negotiable. 248-square-meter duplex, four bedrooms, 15-square-meter through balcony. Over five years ownership. Urgent sale!”
In a city like Beijing, where every square meter of real estate is worth a fortune, the apartments at Sunshine Upper East stand out as large, bright, and immaculately decorated — the kind of luxury homes many aspire to own. According to listings on property platform Lianjia in September, units in the compound were valued at 98,000 to 112,000 yuan per square meter. Now, however, asking prices have plunged to as low as 40,000 to 50,000 yuan per square meter, with some properties effectively cut in half.
One online user remarked, “I saw listings starting at just over 40,000 per square meter — practically a 50 percent discount.” Another echoed: “Yes, I saw that too. The prices are shockingly low.”
Rushing to sell
Why, then, are residents of such a prestigious enclave — home to stars and wealthy elites — suddenly rushing to sell?
Netizens offered their own explanations: “First, they’re afraid of suddenly being ‘disappeared.’ Second, the place is simply too haunted with resentment.”
Fans continue to grieve the sudden death of Yu Menglong, widely admired for his warmth, kindness, and refinement — qualities considered rare in today’s entertainment industry. Many described him as “a gentleman without equal.” His reputation as a clean-living, gentle young man only deepened the shock of his unexplained fall. While the residents of Sunshine Upper East have not publicly revealed what transpired that night, disturbing videos and accounts have circulated online.
One clip, reportedly filmed through a neighbor’s peephole, shows Yu being carried away. A doctor who reviewed the audio claimed the sounds of his cries suggested severe lung injuries.
Following Yu Menglong’s death, U.S.-based commentator Li Muyang revealed on his program that screenshots of conversations among residents of the Sunshine Upper East compound were circulating online.
One resident reportedly said: “Isn’t my place nearby? At the time, I saw Yu Menglong’s face — handsome, but a little terrifying… Later, they contacted our family, gave us tens of thousands of yuan, and told us not to say anything… Soon after, a thin man in a white T-shirt covered him with something.”
When asked if he heard any sounds, the resident replied, “Yes, very loud… like things dropping.”
Further reports claimed that dozens of residents received hush money twice, with each person receiving roughly one million yuan, totaling hundreds of millions across the complex. Allegedly behind the payments was a powerful figure named Tian Hairong, who reportedly tried to manipulate Yu and suppress him for three years. Other neighbors added that those with knowledge of the events had been threatened with violence — from red paint splashed on doors to slashed tires — to ensure their silence.
It appears that many residents were aware of at least some details of Yu Menglong’s death and feared reprisal from authorities, prompting a mass exodus from the complex. As one commenter put it: “The water’s too deep; everyone’s afraid of being watched. This isn’t simple — anyone could be silenced next.” Another wrote: “Sunshine by day, crossing the Bridge of Helplessness by night.”
According to Li Muyang’s sources, the powerful figure who allegedly attempted to manipulate Yu was said to be Xi Yuanping, the younger brother of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Reports also claim that Xi’s alleged illegitimate daughter, Yang Lanlan, met Yu at Xi Yuanping’s residence and fell for him immediately. Yu reportedly became aware of the Xi family’s alleged embezzlement of 2 trillion yuan in military funds and was allegedly drawn into laundering activities. In a purported note to his mother, Yu allegedly wrote that “that family” had recently encountered problems, and someone had asked him to investigate their money transfers to Australia. Although he reportedly did not speak openly, Xi Yuanping allegedly suspected he had stored relevant information and tried to silence him.
Yu Menglong’s name disappears
As of now, outlets like The Epoch Times have not verified these claims. However, Yu Menglong’s name has effectively disappeared from Chinese media and the internet, a move widely interpreted as indicative of government censorship.
Speculation about the leadership extends further. Xi Jinping’s reported poor health and his remark that “at 70, I am still a child,” along with his alleged wish to live to 150, have fueled online discussion. Observers link this to the regime’s treatment of ordinary citizens as expendable resources.
On social media, users have highlighted the establishment of a “National Military Organ Transplant Research Institute,” suggesting that military leaders intend to extend their lifespans. A photo circulating online appears to show a man performing surgery on an elder at this institute. While the facility’s official slogan reads, “Everything for the People,” flags outside proclaim: “Always follow the Party, build the Chinese Dream,” a dream critics say comes at the expense of ordinary citizens.
Evidence of abuses in China’s military hospitals has surfaced. At the 7th China-International Organ Donation Conference in Nanning, Guangxi (December 8–10, 2023), state media lauded government-led organ donation reforms. Yet online users and videos claim that organ harvesting has caused widespread fear. A circulated image purportedly shows 100 Afghan children receiving heart surgery under the Belt and Road humanitarian plan — with skeptics questioning the source of the organs.
Allegedly, the practice extends to ordinary citizens and soldiers alike. Several veterans have gone missing in 2025:
• June 3: Li Hongbo, 29, Zunyi, Guizhou
• June 5: Jin Taiyang, 22, Xinxiang, Henan
• July 7: Wang Yanchao, 24, Xianyang, Shaanxi
Families of the missing veterans have turned to social media for help. One mother of a 22-year-old, Jin Taiyang, said he disappeared on June 5 while traveling from Zhengzhou to Nanning, Guangxi, and remains missing nearly three months later.
Other cases include Liu Yinqi, 24, from Hanzhong, Shaanxi, and Wang Yanchao, a university student veteran in Jinghong, Yunnan. Parents have posted emotional appeals online, pleading for assistance in locating their children.
Active-duty soldiers have also reportedly disappeared. In Jiangsu and Sichuan provinces, multiple servicemen went missing in 2025 after leaving their posts. Netizens have expressed alarm, questioning: “If trained soldiers can vanish, what hope is there for ordinary children?”
One comment summarizes the sentiment online: those who serve the Party may eventually find its repercussions reaching them in turn.
