Leslie Cheung was one of Asia’s hottest superstars in the 1980s and ’90s.

His dashing good looks and silky voice made him a sensation, not just in his home city of Hong Kong but also in mainland China, where he was many people’s first exposure to outside pop music.

Despite his success in music and film, Cheung struggled with depression and ultimately committed suicide in 2003. His death shocked fans across the world.

But his memory lives on in this cafe in Chengdu, about 1,000 miles away from the singer’s hometown.

The cafe’s owner, Lu Xiaochuan, grew up in mainland China just as it was just opening up to the rest of the world. Listening to Leslie Cheung was the first time Lu heard popular music from outside the country.

Now, he uses the cafe to connect with other fans who have been touched by Leslie Cheung’s music and work.

If you liked this story, we have more videos about music and how it inspires people, including:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYd3yZEuRv4

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZRmOYF1R30


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Writer: Venus Wu
Producer: Thomas Yau
Editor: Joel Roche
Mastering: Victor Peña

Music: Audio Network