Hsu was 48 when she died of pneumonia after contracting influenza while on a trip with her family to Japan. Rumours of her death first spread online on Sunday and was eventually confirmed by her younger sister, Taiwanese entertainer Dee Hsu, on Monday morning, via the latter's manager. Her body was later cremated in Tokyo.

Barbie Hsu's ashes are now in Taiwan, various media outlets reported on Thursday. Taiwanese newspaper Liberty Times obtained exclusive footage showing an urn of the late actress’ ashes being transported to Taipei Songshan Airport in Taiwan from the Haneda Airport in Japan on February 5.

Taiwanese actor Barbie Hsu, one of the most prominent stars in the Chinese-speaking world, has died of a flu-related illness at age 48, Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported Monday, citing her sister.