Du Yuesheng - Popular Culture

Popular Culture

For many years, Du Yuesheng and his exploits were officially banned in Communist China on the grounds that they encourage criminality. Chinese language biographies have been banned and writers and sellers of such books arrested. Recently, critical study of Du has become more open although the official ban has never been entirely lifted.

• The 1992 Hong Kong film Lord Of The East China Sea (Chinese: 上海皇帝之歲月風雲) was loosely based on Du's life story. Du was played by Ray Lui in the film.

• The 2009 Chinese film The Founding of a Republic also featured Du Yuesheng in a minor role. He was played by film director Feng Xiaogang.

• The novel White Shanghai by Elvira Baryakina (Ripol Classic, 2010, ISBN 978-5-386-02069-9) mentions the story of Du Yuesheng's coming to power.