Faye Wong's divorce news hits the headline of newspapers in Beijing on Sept 14, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

Media sought comment from Hong Kong singer-actor Tse Ting-fung, who was in a relationship with Wong from 2000 to 2004. He married Hong Kong actress Cheung Pak-chi in 2006 and the couple divorced in 2011. Tse had not yet commented on Wong's divorce.

Beijing News cited an "insider" as saying the couple's problems began a year ago. The newspaper said Wong has been studying Buddhism for years and might become a nun.

Wong posted several pictures of her trip to the Tibet autonomous region days before the divorce announcement.

Wong was born in Beijing and developed her career in Hong Kong. She became one of the country's most popular singers and performed in Mandarin and Cantonese.

She married her first husband, rock musician Dou Wei, in 1996. They divorced three years later.

Their daughter Dou Jingtong is 16 and lives with Wong. Dou posted on her micro blog: "The pain is real, but life goes on. I love you."

Wong withdrew from the limelight after she married Li in 2005.

In 2006, she gave birth to their daughter Li Yan, who had a severe cleft lip. The couple founded the Smile Angel Foundation, a charity for Chinese children with cleft palates.

The Smile Angel Foundation has released a statement saying it will not be affected by the couple's divorce.

"We respect their decision toward different paths of life and the foundation will work as usual," it said.

Though Wong has kept a low profile since she married Li, she is still a headliner followed by fans and media.

In 2010, she returned to perform at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, China's most watched annual TV show. She also staged several concerts that year.

chennan@chinadaily.com.cn

Faye Wong and Li Yapeng shock fans with divorce