Jackie Chan's three wishes: Chinese cinema, filmmakers, and the next generation
Synopsis
Jackie Chan's heartfelt post is more than nostalgia — it is a rare public articulation of the philosophy behind a 50-year career. By naming his original three wishes and adding a fourth, the global action icon reframes his legacy not as a Hollywood crossover story but as a deeply Chinese one, with the country as author and Chan as its storyteller to the world.
Key Takeaways
Jackie Chan publicly revealed the three wishes he held at the start of his career: for Chinese cinema , Chinese filmmakers , and the next generation .
He shared photographs from the Great Wall of China ( 2004 ), Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center ( 2010 ), and Deshengbao, Shanxi ( 2019 ).
Chan credited China with giving him the values of kindness , perseverance , and sincerity that defined his life and career.
He added a fourth wish : for the world to visit and experience China firsthand.
Chan argued that while his films introduced China to global audiences, it was China that first gave him his stories and inspiration.
Legendary action star Jackie Chan has revealed the three wishes he carried with him at the start of his career — for Chinese cinema, Chinese filmmakers, and the next generation — in a deeply personal social media post accompanied by photographs from iconic locations across China.
A Walk Through Iconic Locations
Chan shared a series of images from landmark sites he has visited across the country over the decades, including the Great Wall of China in Beijing in 2004, the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center in Shanghai in 2010, and Deshengbao in Shanxi in 2019. The photographs span fifteen years of a career inextricably linked to the landscapes and culture of his homeland.
In His Own Words
Reflecting on the images, Chan wrote: 'Looking at these old photos, I can still feel it — the exhaustion, the excitement, the youth I left on those sets somewhere in China. Over the years, no matter where I go, my friends around the world warmly call me "Jackie."'
He elaborated on the role his homeland played in shaping his identity, saying: 'It was the movies that gave me that name — that gave me the chance to share stories across borders and take me out into the world. But the further I went, the more I found myself thinking about where it all began. It was China that made me.'
The Values That Defined Him
Chan spoke at length about the qualities he attributes to his Chinese roots, citing kindness, perseverance, and sincerity as the values instilled in him long before he became a global icon. 'Long before "Jackie Chan" existed, this land had already shaped who I would become,' he wrote, adding that while the country has changed and grown over the decades, certain things — the warmth between people, an enduring culture, and stories embedded in its mountains and rivers — have remained constant.
A Fourth Wish Emerges
Addressing the popular perception that his films served as a cultural bridge, Chan offered a reframing: 'People say my movies brought China to the world. But the truth is — China gave me the stories first.' He then revealed that his original three wishes have now been joined by a fourth — a desire for the world to visit and experience the country he loves firsthand. This comes amid growing global interest in soft-power storytelling, with major film markets increasingly recognising the influence of cultural ambassadors like Chan in shaping international perceptions. Notably, Chan has been one of the most consistent non-governmental advocates for Chinese culture on the world stage for over four decades.
Point of View
Positioning China not as a beneficiary of his fame but as its origin. Coming at a time when Chinese cinema is navigating complex global headwinds, Chan's voice carries weight that no government campaign can replicate. The addition of a fourth wish — an open invitation to the world — reads less like spontaneous sentiment and more like a deliberate, ambassador-grade message. Mainstream coverage will treat this as a celebrity nostalgia post; the more significant story is how consistently Chan has functioned as one of the most effective cultural diplomats of the past half-century, entirely outside official channels.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Jackie Chan's three wishes he revealed?
Jackie Chan revealed that his three wishes at the start of his career were for Chinese cinema, Chinese filmmakers, and the next generation. He shared this in a personal post alongside photographs from iconic locations across China.
What is Jackie Chan's fourth wish?
Chan's fourth wish, which he says he now carries in addition to the original three, is for the world to come and see China — the country he describes as the source of his stories, values, and inspiration.
Which locations did Jackie Chan feature in his post?
Chan shared photographs from the Great Wall of China in Beijing (2004), the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai (2010), and Deshengbao in Shanxi (2019), spanning fifteen years of visits to his homeland.
What values does Jackie Chan attribute to his Chinese roots?
Chan cited kindness, perseverance, and sincerity as the core values shaped by China long before he became a global star. He described these as central to both his personal identity and his professional career.
Why is Jackie Chan's message significant beyond celebrity nostalgia?
Chan has been one of the most prominent non-governmental advocates for Chinese culture on the world stage for over four decades. His public articulation of a 'fourth wish' — inviting the world to visit China — positions him as a cultural ambassador at a time when Chinese cinema and soft power are under global scrutiny.
