CCTV reporters were at their stalking best earlier this week when Zhang Ziyi was in town to promote her movie Sophie's Revenge. She was spotted, hand-in-hand with her niece, going for dinner near the Beijing International Trade Center. Though it was dark, Zhang was dressed for the beach, as she wore sunglasses and hot pants.

The previous week Zhang metaphorically draped herself in the red flag of China when she said in an ifeng.com interview she would not follow in the footsteps of both Gong Li and Jet Li (not related, obviously), who have become Singaporean citizens.

As for her marriage to Vivi Nevo, speculation is rampant. Last July she said would get married within a year to the billionaire film financier. Time's up. Either way, her financial future looks secure as she has just bought a 200 sq-m luxury apartment in the capital for 10 million yuan, according to the CCTV report.