Teng is widely considered as one of the most successful and influential figures in Asian music and pop culture of all time, considering her deep impact on Asian music scene, particularly the Chinese-speaking world where her influence goes far beyond the music circle, to include the both political and cultural spheres; and where her ability to sing in multiple languages made her an icon in all of Asia that helped birth to the era of region-wide pop superstardom that became today's norm. According to report published by "Billboard" on May 1995, Teng released 25 albums during the last 26 years of her career, that sold over 22 million copies, going by original sales. On May 8, 1995, Teng died from a severe respiratory attack while on vacation in Thailand at the age of 42. She remains a national heroine and a symbol of cultural unity of Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Chinese-speaking communities worldwide.