Saying goodbye to Shancai: Remembering Barbie Hsu and 'Meteor Garden'
I was having a busy day when I learned of Barbie Hsu's passing. In that moment, memories flooded back.
Back in the day, everyone I knew instantly recognized her name and the beloved character she brought to life—Shancai. We all loved her, and we all loved Meteor Garden.
It was as if there was a curfew in 2003 as my friends and I rushed home in the afternoon, eager not to miss an episode. The next day, we would gather, giddy with excitement, dissecting every scene, swooning over kilig-worthy moments, and speculating what would happen next.
Who could forget the time Shancai and Hua Ze Lei played basketball against Dao Ming Si to fight for their place in school? Or the time Dao Ming Si and Shancai seek shelter in a stairwell? Dao Ming Si was sick and fell asleep on Shancai's lap, which was one of the most kilig moments in the series.

While the drama had its fair share of flaws—like elements of misogyny, elitism, and borderline abusive relationships—Meteor Garden became part of our lives. The show became a collective experience, a cultural moment that wove itself into our youth. And perhaps that’s what makes Barbie Hsu’s sudden passing even more heartbreaking.
It almost feels like the death of a dream, at least for me. Shancai was a huge part of my childhood, and I know that’s something I share with many Filipino ’90s kids. A part of me always held onto the hope that one day, Barbie Hsu would reunite with Jerry Yan, Vic Zhou, Vanness Wu, and Ken Chu.

There was never any real sign of a Meteor Garden reunion or a long-awaited Part 3, yet collectively, we all clung to the idea that it could still happen. We didn't just want to see them together again. Revisiting this experience that once made us so happy felt like a chance to relive even a fraction of that joy in the 2000s. It was a way to hold onto a part of who we were—to believe that even as time changes everything, some things remain the same.
But things won't ever be the same. And should a Meteor Garden reunion happen, it would be missing such an integral piece.
If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that Hsu touched countless hearts, mine included, and she will be remembered with warmth and love. As Shancai, she made fans laugh, dream, and even shed a tear.

When we watch old clips or reminisce about the 2000s drama, we can look back on the smiles, joy, and laughter we once shared. We can remember how Hsu and the show brought people together.
Beyond Meteor Garden, Hsu made her impact on the Asian entertainment scene as an actress, a TV host, a published author, and a wife and mother.
After all, as long as we're remembered by those whose lives we touched and whose hearts we moved, maybe a part of us always remains. We carry on—just in a different way, in a different form. As for Hsu, Shancai and the rest of her legacy live on.
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