Famous People from China

21 notable historical figures from China, including leaders, artists, scientists, and other influential people.

politician (5)film actor (3)literary critic (2)novelist (2)economist (2)communist (1)political theorist (1)statesperson (1)anthropologist (1)folklorist (1)

Mao Zedong

1893 – 1976

1st chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and founder of the People's Republic of China (1893–1976)

communistpolitical theoristmilitary theoriststrategistphilosophercalligrapherrevolutionaryauthorlibrarianpoliticianpoetwriter
Born December 26Wikipedia →

Xi Jinping

1953 – Present

General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party since 2012 (born 1953)

statespersonpolitician
Born June 15Wikipedia →

Huang Xianfan

1899 – 1982

Chinese historian, ethnologist and educator (1899-1982)

anthropologistfolkloristuniversity teacherethnologisteducatorhistorianpolitician
Born November 13Wikipedia →

Jackie Chan

1954 – Present

Hong Kong actor and martial artist (born 1954)

taekwondo athletefilm actorjudokafilm producerfilm directorchoreographerstunt performeractorscreenwriter
Born April 7Wikipedia →

Deng Xiaoping

1904 – 1997

Chinese politician and paramount leader from 1978 to 1989

journalistdiplomatpolitician
Born August 22Wikipedia →

Liu Xiaobo

1955 – 2017

Chinese literary critic, writer, professor, and human rights activist (1955–2017)

literary critichuman rights defenderpoetwriter
Born December 28Wikipedia →

Gao Xingjian

1940 – Present

Chinese novelist and playwright (1940- )

novelistliterary criticfilm directorpaintertranslatorplaywrightwriterscreenwriter
Born January 4Wikipedia →

Jiang Zemin

1926 – 2022

former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (1926–2022)

electrical engineerpolitician
Born August 17Wikipedia →

Zhou Enlai

1898 – 1976

1st Premier of the People's Republic of China

foreign ministerministerpolitician
Born March 5Wikipedia →

Li Keqiang

1955 – 2023

Premier of the People's Republic of China from 2013 to 2023

economistpolitician
Born July 3Wikipedia →

Tu Youyou

1930 – Present

Chinese medical scientist

malariologistpharmacologistuniversity teacherchemistinventorpharmacist
Born December 30Wikipedia →

Puyi

1906 – 1967

Last Emperor of Qing dynasty and Manchukuo (1906–1967)

autobiographeraristocratgardenerarchivistwriter
Born February 7Wikipedia →

Wen Jiabao

1942 – Present

6th Premier of the People's Republic of China from 2004 to 2013

geologisteconomistpoliticianengineer
Born September 15Wikipedia →

Hua Guofeng

1921 – 2008

2nd Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, 2nd Premier of the People's Republic of China (1921–2008)

politician
Born February 16Wikipedia →