Although she is not due in the state until a week later, a likeness of the mainland Chinese actress as China’s most formidable empress has appeared on a wall in one of the oldest parts of the town-centre

Artists adding the finishing touches to the mural of a costumed Fan Bingbing in Malacca. Photo: Fan Chunwei (范纯玮)/Sin Chew Daily

Looks like Fan Bingbing (范冰冰) will not appear as either Puteri Gunung Ledang or Tun Fatimah, as we had imagined. Nothing is confirmed yet. Everything is under wraps so far. The Malaccan authorities have kept rather tight-lipped about what their star-ambassador will be doing and where she will be going. Local residents are now guessing that Ms Fan may appear as Wu Zetian (武则天) as a mural of her playing the titular character in the 2014 television series 武媚娘传奇 (wu meiniang quanqi) or The Empress of China has appeared. The street art was completed sometime today and has drawn considerable attention. Painted on a side wall of a shop house reportedly situated in Lorong Hang Jebat in the famed Jonkers Walk, the portrait of the TV character in full regalia will officially be launched by the actress as part of her tour of the area, reportedly.

It seems now that there would be some kind of mini-procession through the tourist attraction of Jonker Walk, a thoroughfare—lined with shops—that dates back to the 17th century. Or, at least, fans trailing her. Malaccans are burning with curiousity about her itinerary—one that is likely not planned by her. She is a paid ambassadorial guest; she probably has no say in the matter, even if there would be no parade similar to the one she was part of in Bangkok two months ago. Rumours have been rife that she will greet fans at the Jonker Street Cultural Square on the 14th, enjoy chicken rice balls, and participate in the unveiling of the mural situated nearby. To us, this is not the best representation of Fan Bingbing in period costume, nor adequately grand. But it is probably very Jonker Street. Ms Fan could be less demanding about a delineation that is beyond her control. As Wu Zetian would have said, “以色事人，不能久已”—using beauty to please others cannot last long.

Update (8 June 2024, 9am): Tourism Melaka has shared a poster on Facebook to announce a “Meet & Greet” Fan Bingbing session on 14th (11am) at the Platform Tinjau Stadthuys, Banda Hilir, where the much-visited Red Square is, or a five-minute walk from the mural of the actress-as-empress and and 15th June (7pm) at Encore Melaka, the “largest performing arts theatre in Asia”. Reportedly, no tickets are required