Qian Zhuangfei

Qian Zhuangfei (; September 25, 1895 – April 1935) was a Chinese doctor, film director and a secret agent for the Chinese Communist Party. After the Kuomintang (KMT) began its suppression of the Communists in 1927, Qian infiltrated the KMT secret service, and in 1931 intercepted a telegram reporting the arrest and defection of the Communist leader Gu Shunzhang. His quick reaction allowed the Communist leadership in Shanghai to evacuate, and he was credited with saving the lives of top leaders including Zhou Enlai, later the Premier of China. Zhou called Qian and his fellow agents Li Kenong and Hu Di "the three most distinguished intelligence workers of the Party." Qian was killed in 1935 during the Long March. He was the father of Li Lili, one of China's most popular film stars in the 1930s.

Early life and career Qian was born Qian Beiqiu in 1895/1896 in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. He also used the name Qian Chao .

After graduating from Huzhou High School,

Zhou Enlai later called Qian Zhuangfei, Li Kenong and Hu Di, "the three most distinguished intelligence workers of the Party", and said that he and other Communist leaders owed their lives to them. Li, the sole survivor of the three who lived to see the founding of the People's Republic of China, was awarded the military rank of general (shang jiang) in 1955, despite his lack of combat experience.

Family Qian's daughter Li Lili was one of China's most popular movie stars in the 1930s. Qian Zhuangfei's daughter Qian Zhenzhen was born in June 1915. After Qian fled Nanjing for the Communist base, his daughter was adopted by Li Jinhui, the "father of Chinese popular music", and changed her name to Li Lili. She became one of the most popular movie stars of the 1930s, sometimes called "China's Mae West".

Qian also had two sons, Qian Jiang (钱江) and Qian Yiping (钱一平). Qian Jiang was a well-known cinematographer and film director. In 1985, he directed the film Night in Jinling based on Qian Zhuangfei's life.