Zhang Xuefeng, popular Chinese exam tutor turned influencer, dies at 41 due to cardiac arrest

Zhang Xuefeng, a well-known entrepreneur and social media influencer in China's education sector, has died at the age of 41.

On Mar. 24, his company, Suzhou Fengxue Weilai Education Technology Co, issued an obituary confirming his passing, local news outlet China Daily reported.

Zhang had founded the company and served as its chief executive officer.

The obituary, published on his Weibo account, stated that he had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at 3:50pm that same day and could not be saved despite emergency resuscitation efforts.

In the wake of the announcement, Zhang's profile photos on both his Weibo and Xiaohongshu accounts were changed to black and white — a traditional gesture of mourning.

Felt unwell after going for a run

Citing JF Daily, Yahoo News reported that Zhang began feeling unwell around noon after jogging on his company's premises.

"He was rushed to the hospital but ultimately succumbed to his condition, with the hospital officially diagnosing the cause of death as sudden cardiac death."

Two days before his passing, Zhang had reportedly shared a running log on social media.

He had completed a 7km run on Mar. 22, which brought his total mileage for the month to 72km.

Background

According to China Daily, Zhang was born in Heilongjiang province in May 1984, and rose to prominence as a tutor specialising in college and postgraduate entrance exam preparation.

He later became one of China's most prominent online influencers, and was widely recognised for his guidance on university applications and graduate admissions.

According to a 2024 feature by South China Morning Post, Zhang had amassed 30 million followers and built a personal fortune of at least US$100 million (around S$128 million), cementing his status as the country's most successful extracurricular tutor.

His counselling service for college applications was highly coveted, with fees ranging between 12,000 and 17,000 yuan (roughly S$2,225 and S$3,153) per student.

Zhang was also said to have spurred the growth of an entire industry dedicated to "gaokao" applications, required for admission to higher education institutes, one that now counts more than 1,600 registered companies.

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