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The 62-year-old shared a video on Douyin on Aug. 17 showing himself lying in bed with IV drips attached. “I’ve recently faced another unexpected challenge,” he wrote in English, as quoted by The Straits Times.

In the evening the same day, he uploaded another video of himself being wheeled into the operating theater, writing: “A few days ago, my hardware broke down, so I sent it back to the manufacturer for repair.” He did not specify his condition.

On Aug. 18, the action star posted additional clips in which he joked that the operating theater looks like a movie set. He also shared photos of himself using his phone and tablet after surgery, being assisted by staff, and standing up, saying he felt more “energized,” according to Singapore outlet Mothership.

He later posted a photo eating a bowl of knife-cut noodles with a caption saying he had left the “factory” and thanked fans for their concern.

The updates quickly went viral on social media, drawing an outpouring of well wishes and prayers. Hong Kong film producer Tiffany Chen, a close friend of Li, told Taiwanese newspaper China Times that the actor had undergone surgery to remove a small benign tumor, The Straits Times reported.

Li was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in 2010, a condition that can cause fatigue and weight loss. While the illness initially left him looking frail, he later reassured fans it was manageable with medication.

The actor, active on Chinese platforms Xiaohongshu and Weibo, has faced online criticism recently over his Singapore citizenship and aspects of his personal life. Some netizens accused him of “trying to ride the wave again”, while others criticized him as “stingy” after reports that he gifted his daughter a 300,000 yuan ($42,000) car for her wedding despite his estimated $250 million net worth.

Born into hardship in Beijing after the death of his father, Li discovered Wushu at age eight and went on to become China’s national all-around champion from 1975 to 1979. He retired from the sport at age 18 due to a knee injury, later serving as assistant coach for the Beijing Wushu team.

Li’s film career took off in 1982 with “Shaolin Temple,” which set box office records in China. He later starred in international blockbusters such as “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” “The Expendables,” and “Lethal Weapon 4.” In 2011, he confirmed that he had acquired Singaporean citizenship, according to AFP.