Li Ting

Li Ting (born 1981 ) is a Chinese science writer, science communicator, YouTuber, and former atmospheric researcher She previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and was a member of the China Popular Science Writers Association (中国科普作家协会) and the China Meteorological Popular Science Committee. She currently resides in Tokyo, Japan.

Career

Li earned a Ph.D. in meteorology and completed postdoctoral research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She also contributed to the national science outreach programme ‘‘Science China’’ (科普中国), participated in science programmes and interviews on Chinese radio and television, and delivered public lectures at institutions and organizations including Tsinghua University and Friends of Nature.

Activities Li was active on Sina Weibo under the pen name “大脸撑在小胸上”, where she accumulated more than 8.3 million followers. She later launched the YouTube channel Tingjian (汀见), which has over 181,000 subscribers.

In early 2017, Li drew public attention to unusually high sulfur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations in Linfen, Shanxi. She published a series of articles discussing the health hazards of sulfur dioxide, one of the principal pollutants responsible for the Great Smog of London, and reported the issue to local authorities. The articles attracted widespread public attention and contributed to an investigation by China's Ministry of Environmental Protection, which summoned Linfen municipal officials and resulted in a public apology from the city's mayor.

Personal life Li married former China Central Television journalist Wang Zhi'an in 2015. They have one child. The family later relocated to Japan, where they settled. Li and Wang divorced in 2021.

Marriage and divorce

Background

According to Li, after former China Central Television journalist Wang Zhian relocated to Japan following his ban in China, he persuaded her to give up her career in China, resign from her position at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, withdraw from the public internet, and move to Japan with their child, stating that it would provide better educational opportunities. Li also alleged that Wang concealed their marriage from the public. She claimed that approximately two months after their arrival, Wang asked her to sign a divorce agreement, stating that divorcing would better protect her and their child's safety.

Livestream

On the evening of 9 March 2025, Li entered Wang's Tokyo studio and livestreamed on YouTube, tearfully alleging that she had been deceived and pressured into divorce. Wang subsequently appeared in the livestream, accused Li of trespassing, and called the police. He shouted at her, saying, "Get out. You've been staying in our house for nine days already. Look how frightened you've made our child. You're going to prison." The livestream was then cut off by staff members who attempted to calm the situation.

The following day, Li livestreamed again, alleging that Wang had deceived her into resigning from her job and moving to Japan. She said that she had sacrificed her own career prospects and public influence to support her husband's career, only to be asked to sign a divorce agreement less than two months after relocating. Li further claimed that, during the divorce proceedings, Wang had promised not to have any more children so that their child "could receive all of her father's love." She said that this promise had been broken and that she felt betrayed.