Chinese actress Fan Bingbing completed a five-day tour across five Malaysian states promoting the film Mother Bhumi from May 10 to May 15, 2026 [1, 2].
The tour included visits to Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Melaka, Penang, and Kedah, where she met with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at Istana Pasir Pelangi in Johor Bahru on May 12 [1]. Fan Bingbing, 44, also sampled local dishes such as satay celup in Melaka during the visit [1].
Mother Bhumi is a Malaysian film directed by Chong Keat Aun. It is set in rural Kedah near the Thai border in 1998, focusing on village life and a female shaman known as Mother Bhumi [1, 3, 4]. Fan Bingbing stars as Hong Im, a widowed farmer and traditional healer, or bomoh [1, 4]. The director said the story is inspired by his childhood experiences with shamans in his hometown [3].
Fan Bingbing spent months before filming learning various Malaysian languages and dialects for the role, describing the process as challenging but rewarding. She said, "I spent a lot of time practicing pronunciation and understanding the emotions behind the lines. But I also enjoyed the process because it helped me connect more deeply with the character and Malaysian culture" [4].
Mother Bhumi won three awards at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards in November 2025, including Best Leading Actress for Fan Bingbing, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Film Song [1]. The film had previously screened internationally in Japan, Italy, and Singapore before its nationwide Malaysian release scheduled for May 17–18, 2026 [3, 4].
Fan Bingbing was appointed Melaka's Tourism Friendship Ambassador in 2024 and received an honorary Datuk title in 2025 from the state's governor, reflecting her long-term engagement with Malaysia [1]. She expressed enthusiasm about the promotional tour, saying, "5 days, 5 states, countless memories. Hope everyone brought home more than just memories of the film, but also memories of Malaysia’s warmth and flavours" [1, 2].
The film’s production took place between February and October 2024 in Kedah, coinciding with Fan Bingbing’s arrival in Malaysia to shoot the movie [3]. Following the recent campaign, Mother Bhumi is set to release nationwide in Malaysian cinemas from May 17 to 18, 2026 [3, 4].
