She was born as Yang Li-Tsing in Taiwan and her movie name Cynthia Khan is a combination of the names of established martial arts movie stars Cynthia Rothrock and Michelle Yeoh (her real name is Michelle Khan). The meaning of her screen name is "The goddess of the moon".
Birthdate: 13-12-1968
Birthplace: Chiayi County
Country: Taiwan
Nationality: Chinese
Occupation: Actress/Martial Artist
Height: 5' 6¼" (168 cm)
She studied chinese and jazz dance at school and studied later at the "Guoguang art school" (an expirimental art school in theatre, drama and opera) in Taipei City (Taiwan). She won a national talent contest which is organised by a Taiwainese television when she was 17 years old. She started with taekwondo since young age and achieved a high level in this discipline.
She is forced to stop as actress, because her work has given many arm, feet and bones injuries. She starts with yoga and gained her international yoga teacher certificate. She gives yoga classes in Taiwan and released a yoga teaching DVD.
Action Movie Career
She made her action movie debut in the Taiwanese action movie "The Three Headed Monster" (1987) and played in the fantasy movie "Split of the spirit" (1987).
She was asked by Dickson Poon (was looking for a woman), to replace the retiring Michelle Yeoh in "In the Line of Duty 3". She accepts his offer and signs a contract with film studio ''D & B'' in 1987. She made her action movie debut as Hong Kong inspector Rachel Yeung (played by Cynthia) who hunts down terrorists in ''In the Line of Duty 3'' (1987). She has a successful HK debut and has benefited from the presence of Michiko Nishiwaki in the movie.
She investigates as police inspector Yeung Lai-Ching the murder case of a police officer in her second D&B Films action movie ''In The Line Of Fire 4'' (1989). Her suspect is an illegal harbor worker who's on the run for two corrupt cops and a CIA agent. She gets help of officer Donny (played by Donnie Yen) in order to solve the case.
She plays Yang Lei-Ching next to Wai-lim Chu, Chuen-Yee Cha, Evina Kong and Kim Penn in ''In the Line of Duty 5'' (1990). She's the daughter of a Hong Kong triad leader who inherits the organization's leadership after her father is killed by a rival gang. She decides to take revenge after her husband is also killed by the gang.
She plays Inspector Yeung next to Donnie Yen who plays the lead role as hot-headed cop Dragon Yau in ''Tiger Cage 2'' (1990). He teams up with the lawyers David (played by David Wu) and Mandy Chang (played by Rosamund Kwan) after he is accused for a murder he has not committed. Their investigation leads to crime boss Waise Chow (played by Robin Shou).
She plays Kwanny who is in charge of her father’s empire together with her brother Yeung Chung (played by Simon Yam) after their father is assassinated by his business rival in ''Queens High'' (1990). Her brother is an ruthless ambitious family member who has orchestrated the massacre on her father, in order to take over the business for himself.
She plays Madam Yeung next to Simon Yam and Gary Chow in ''In the Line of Duty 7'' (1991). John (played by Simon Yam) is part of a smugglers crew who kills Gary (played by Gary Chow) his girlfriend. Gary is framed for the murder when they arrive in Hong Kong. John tries to help him for the sake of their old friendship while the investigation is led by Madam Yeung.
She plays Wild who gets martial arts training from vengeful cage fighter Amp (played by Dale Cook), in a post-apocalyptic world in ''Eternal Fist'' (1992). She searches for the evil desert gentleman who has destroyed her village.
She plays Cui Gu in this story about Japanese martial arts master Wuwechimato (played by Yu Rong Guang), who travels to China to learn Chinese kung fu in ''Deadend Of Besiegers'' (1992). He is on board of a boat filled with Japanese pirates whose only mission is to plunder. He arrives in a small Chinese village and protects the population against the pirates.
She plays alongside wellknown action heroines Kara Hui, Sheila Chan, Moon Lee, Sandra Ng Kwan Yue and Wan-Yee Tse in ''Inspector Wears Skirts IV'' (1992). She plays Madame Yang who is the experienced leader of the female task force ''The Thorny Roses''. The girls are replacing the male police force and come in action when Amy (played by Sandra Ng Kwan Yue) her son is held hostage by thugs.
She plays though policewoman Hsie Wan-Chin who makes plans for her wedding with fellow cop Wilson Tsiang (played by Lawrence Ng Kai-wah) in ''A Serious Shock! Yes Madam!'' (1992). She doesn't know that he has an illicit affair with her best girl friend May (played by Moon Lee). Wilson tries to break things off but May becomes angry when she learns that Wilson and Hsie are moving to England. May kills Wilson and pinning the crime on her ex-best girl friend. Hsie is on the run for the police and gets help of petty criminal Coco (played by Yukari Ôshima). She relies on Coco during her mission to prove her innocence in order to clear her name.
She plays military cop Chin from Beijing who leaves the police squad, in order to reunite with her ex lover Hsiong Chin in ''The avenging Quartet'' (1992). She meets Hsiong Chin's new girlfriend Feng (played by Moon Lee) in her search and they become friends. Feng and Chin meet Oshima and Sen who come to Hong Kong for the painting of the Japanese officials from WWII. The four women decide to work together, to clean the streets of thugs.
She plays military cop Chin from Beijing who leaves the police squad, in order to reunite with her ex lover Hsiong Chin in ''The avenging Quartet'' (1992). She meets Hsiong Chin's new girlfriend Feng (played by Moon Lee) in her search and they become friends. Feng and Chin meet Oshima and Sen who come to Hong Kong for the painting of the Japanese officials from WWII. The four women decide to work together, to clean the streets of thugs.
She plays General Choi Siu-Ching in this story about a fierce war between two kingdoms set in ancient China in ''Zen of Sword'' (1993). The war between the royal families approaches a sensational denouement, when princess Choi Siu-ling (played by Michelle Lee Kar-yan), falls in love on enemy prince Ha Hou (played by Lau Sek-ming) with all troubles entails.
She plays Yang Ching who leads a attack against a band of thugs called "The Five Fingers" in ''Madame City Hunter'' (1993). The assault leads to the death of criminals, when Yang becomes target of gangland.
She plays the black leotard clad super cop Nieh Ling whose amazing fight abilities are result of state-funded experiments in ''Super Lady Cop'' (1993). She hunts on three escaped experimental rogue comrades who underwent similar experiments in Hong Kong.
She plays Yang Ching who leads a attack against a band of thugs called "The Five Fingers" in ''Madame City Hunter'' (1993). The assault leads to the death of criminals, when Yang becomes target of gangland.
She plays the black leotard clad super cop Nieh Ling whose amazing fight abilities are result of state-funded experiments in ''Super Lady Cop'' (1993). She hunts on three escaped experimental rogue comrades who underwent similar experiments in Hong Kong.
She plays Quihua in ''Thirteen Cold-Blooded Eagles'' (1993), what the remake is of the original Shaw Brothers kung fu masterpiece ''Avenging Eagle'' is. The 13 Cold-Blooded Eagles are a group of orphans who are raised by their mentor as killers. There is disagreement under The Eagles when they get the order to kill Foster Father (played by Shi-Kwan Yen). The Eagles refuse to do the assignment when they decide to defeat their mentor.
She plays alongside Ronnie Ricketts, Kim Penn, Lily Lee, Peter Cheung and Phillip Ko in ''Ultimate Revenge'' (1995). Inspector Ching (played by Peter Cheung) hunts on a nefarious smuggler gang at the Phillipines.
She plays Interpol agent Lai Ching who hunts on a notorious crime syndicate in ''Angel On Fire'' (1995). The gang stole a shaolin temple relic and Lai Fing teams up with two other Interpol agents in Manilla in order to exterminate the gang.
She plays policewoman Mai Lei from Hong Kong who hunts for supermodel Natasia (played by Melanie Marquez) in ''Matira Ang Matibay'' (1995). She steals a precious artefact from a sacred temple of Shaolin and tries to sell the stolen property in Manila.
She plays Captain Yiang who teams up with police agents Li Chin Tang (played by Yuen Biao) and Wai (played by Waise Lee Chi-Hung), in order to stop a gang of thugs in ''Tough Beauty and the Sloppy Slop'' (1995).
She plays Hong Kong inspector Lai Ching who finds out that her fiancé is involved with a Triad murder case in "Yes Madam 5" (1996). She realizes that her job clashes with the career of her boy friend, and the pair lives together with tense odds. The Triads kill her boy friend because he has stolen a disc with names of Triad members. Lai is determined to take revenge against the Triads in order to avenge her boy friend.
She plays an local cop who teams up with Interpol agent Yukari Oshima in order to bring a heroin smuggler (played by Billy Chow) behind bars in "Super Cops" (1997).
She plays Sally who hires her best girl friend Yukari Ôshima as bodyguard in order to protect her businessman father who might get kidnapped for ransom in ''Tiger Angels'' (1997). Both women try to save him when the unthinkable terror finally becomes reality.
She plays alongside Ronnie Ricketts, Kim Penn, Lily Lee, Peter Cheung and Phillip Ko in ''Ultimate Revenge'' (1995). Inspector Ching (played by Peter Cheung) hunts on a nefarious smuggler gang at the Phillipines.
She plays Interpol agent Lai Ching who hunts on a notorious crime syndicate in ''Angel On Fire'' (1995). The gang stole a shaolin temple relic and Lai Fing teams up with two other Interpol agents in Manilla in order to exterminate the gang.
She plays policewoman Mai Lei from Hong Kong who hunts for supermodel Natasia (played by Melanie Marquez) in ''Matira Ang Matibay'' (1995). She steals a precious artefact from a sacred temple of Shaolin and tries to sell the stolen property in Manila.
She plays Captain Yiang who teams up with police agents Li Chin Tang (played by Yuen Biao) and Wai (played by Waise Lee Chi-Hung), in order to stop a gang of thugs in ''Tough Beauty and the Sloppy Slop'' (1995).
She plays Hong Kong inspector Lai Ching who finds out that her fiancé is involved with a Triad murder case in "Yes Madam 5" (1996). She realizes that her job clashes with the career of her boy friend, and the pair lives together with tense odds. The Triads kill her boy friend because he has stolen a disc with names of Triad members. Lai is determined to take revenge against the Triads in order to avenge her boy friend.
She plays an local cop who teams up with Interpol agent Yukari Oshima in order to bring a heroin smuggler (played by Billy Chow) behind bars in "Super Cops" (1997).
She plays Sally who hires her best girl friend Yukari Ôshima as bodyguard in order to protect her businessman father who might get kidnapped for ransom in ''Tiger Angels'' (1997). Both women try to save him when the unthinkable terror finally becomes reality.
She plays alongside Ling Liu, Hongbo Shi and Siu-Wong Fan in ''The Boxing King'' (2002). Fighter Ricky (played by Fan Siu-Wong) pushes himself to the limits with fighting, until he ends up in the hospital during his journey to win all fights. He promises to his girlfriend that he will never fight again after his recovery. He steps back in the ring when he is challenged by a mysterious fighter named ''The Warrior. He wants to prove himself to his Power King in order to win his confidence back.
She played together with action movie heroines as Lisa Chiao Chiao, Michiko Nishiwaki, Sandra Ng Kwan Yue, Moon Lee, Yukari Ôshima, Kara Hui, Joanna Chan, Sheila Chan, Sharon Yeung in several movies.
Action Movie Documentary
Her action movie character is portrayed in the documentary ''Top Fighter II: Deadly China Dolls'' (1996). This is the sequel of the documentary "Top Fighter" (1995) which portrays the biggest action heroines ever. The documentary shows behind the scenes with TV footage and interviews with several heroines in short clips. The documentary let the people see how she begins as upcoming action heroine and ends as a real action movie superstar. The most beautiful and well known female fighters are performing in this female martial arts show.
Top Fighter II: Deadly China Dolls Cast
- Cheng Pei Pei
- Chia Ling
- Sophia Crawford
- Hsu Feng
- Cynthia Khan Lai Ching
- Moon Lee Choi Fong
- Elaine Lui Siu Ling
- Angela Mao Ying
- Michiko Nishiwaki
- Yukari Oshima
- Cynthia Rothrock
- Polly Shang-Kwan Ling Feng
- Shih Szu
- Michelle Yeoh
- Sharon Yeung Pan Pan
- Amy Yip Chi May
Action Filmography
- The Boxing King (2002)
- Tiger Angels (1997)
- Super Cops (1997)
- Top Fighter 2 (1996)
- Yes, Madam 5 (1996)
- Tough Beauty And Sloppy Slop (1995)
- Matira Ang Matibay (1995)
- Angel Of Fire (1995)
- Ultimate Revenge (1995)
- Thirteen Cold-Blooded Eagles (1993)
- Super Lady Cop (1993)
- Madam City Hunter (1993)
- Zen of Sword (1993)
- Avenging Quartet (1992)
- A Serious Shock! Yes Madam! (1992)
- The Inspector Wears Skirts IV (1992)
- Deadend Of Besiegers (1992)
- Eternal Fist (1992)
- In the Line of Duty 7 (1991)
- In the Line of Duty 6 (1991)
- Queen's High (1990)
- Tiger Cage 2 (1990)
- In the Line of Duty 5 (1990)
- In The Line Of Duty 4 (1989)
- In The Line Of Duty 3 (1987)
