China’s history spans millennia, shaped by visionary leaders, thinkers, and artists. This list highlights 100 men whose contributions have profoundly impacted Chinese society and the wider world.
The 100 Most Famous Chinese Men of All Time
| No. | Name | Occupation / Why Famous |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confucius | Philosopher and founder of Confucianism |
| 2 | Qin Shi Huang | First Emperor of a unified China |
| 3 | Mao Zedong | Founding father of the People’s Republic of China |
| 4 | Sun Yat-sen | First president and founding father of the Republic of China |
| 5 | Laozi | Philosopher and founder of Taoism |
| 6 | Deng Xiaoping | Leader who implemented China’s economic reforms |
| 7 | Mencius | Philosopher and principal interpreter of Confucianism |
| 8 | Sima Qian | Historian and author of the Records of the Grand Historian |
| 9 | Cao Cao | Warlord and penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty |
| 10 | Zhuge Liang | Strategist and statesman of the Shu Han state |
| 11 | Emperor Taizong of Tang | Regarded as one of the greatest emperors in Chinese history |
| 12 | Kublai Khan | Founder of the Yuan dynasty |
| 13 | Zheng He | Admiral and explorer of the Ming dynasty |
| 14 | Bruce Lee | Martial artist and global cultural icon |
| 15 | Jack Ma | Co-founder of Alibaba Group |
| 16 | Xi Jinping | Current General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party |
| 17 | Zhou Enlai | First Premier of the People’s Republic of China |
| 18 | Liu Bang | Founder and first emperor of the Han dynasty |
| 19 | Emperor Wu of Han | Emperor who vastly expanded Chinese territory |
| 20 | Sun Tzu | Military strategist and author of The Art of War |
| 21 | Li Bai | Renowned Tang dynasty poet |
| 22 | Du Fu | Renowned Tang dynasty poet |
| 23 | Jackie Chan | Global action film star and martial artist |
| 24 | Mozi | Philosopher and founder of Mohism |
| 25 | Han Fei | Legalist philosopher |
| 26 | Wang Anshi | Song dynasty economist and chancellor |
| 27 | Zhu Yuanzhang | Founder of the Ming dynasty |
| 28 | Emperor Kangxi | Longest-reigning emperor of the Qing dynasty |
| 29 | Emperor Qianlong | Qing emperor known for cultural and territorial expansion |
| 30 | Lu Xun | Leading figure of modern Chinese literature |
| 31 | Chiang Kai-shek | Leader of the Republic of China |
| 32 | Qian Xuesen | Aerodynamicist and father of Chinese rocketry |
| 33 | Yuan Longping | Agronomist known for developing hybrid rice |
| 34 | Yao Ming | Professional basketball player and NBA star |
| 35 | Jet Li | Martial artist and film actor |
| 36 | Wang Wei | Tang dynasty poet, musician, and painter |
| 37 | Su Dongpo | Song dynasty writer, poet, and statesman |
| 38 | Zhang Qian | Diplomat who opened the Silk Road |
| 39 | Cai Lun | Inventor of paper |
| 40 | Bi Sheng | Inventor of movable type printing |
| 41 | Zu Chongzhi | Mathematician who calculated Pi to high accuracy |
| 42 | Zhang Heng | Polymath, inventor of the seismoscope |
| 43 | Hua Tuo | Physician and pioneer of anesthesia |
| 44 | Li Shizhen | Polymath and author of the Compendium of Materia Medica |
| 45 | Guan Yu | General during the Three Kingdoms period |
| 46 | Yue Fei | Military general and symbol of patriotism |
| 47 | Lin Zexu | Official who opposed the opium trade |
| 48 | Kang Youwei | Scholar and leader of the Hundred Days’ Reform |
| 49 | Liang Qichao | Intellectual and leader of the Hundred Days’ Reform |
| 50 | Hu Shih | Philosopher and leader of the New Culture Movement |
| 51 | Chen Duxiu | Co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party |
| 52 | Liu Shaoqi | Chairman of the People’s Republic of China |
| 53 | Zhu De | General and co-founder of the People’s Liberation Army |
| 54 | Peng Dehuai | Military leader and defense minister |
| 55 | Lin Biao | Marshal of the People’s Republic of China |
| 56 | Hu Jintao | Former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party |
| 57 | Jiang Zemin | Former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party |
| 58 | Wen Jiabao | Former Premier of the People’s Republic of China |
| 59 | Li Keqiang | Former Premier of the People’s Republic of China |
| 60 | Mo Yan | Nobel Prize-winning novelist |
| 61 | Ba Jin | Renowned modern novelist |
| 62 | Lao She | Renowned modern playwright and novelist |
| 63 | Xu Beihong | Painter known for Chinese ink wash works |
| 64 | Qi Baishi | Influential modern painter |
| 65 | Zhang Yimou | Renowned film director |
| 66 | Ang Lee | Academy Award-winning film director |
| 67 | Chow Yun-fat | Renowned actor in Hong Kong cinema |
| 68 | Donnie Yen | Martial artist and film actor |
| 69 | Lang Lang | World-renowned concert pianist |
| 70 | Yo-Yo Ma | World-renowned cellist |
| 71 | I. M. Pei | Pritzker Prize-winning architect |
| 72 | Charles K. Kao | Nobel Prize-winning physicist and father of fiber optics |
| 73 | Chen-Ning Yang | Nobel Prize-winning physicist |
| 74 | Tsung-Dao Lee | Nobel Prize-winning physicist |
| 75 | Robin Li | Co-founder of Baidu |
| 76 | Pony Ma | Founder of Tencent |
| 77 | Ren Zhengfei | Founder of Huawei |
| 78 | Liu Chuanzhi | Founder of Lenovo |
| 79 | Wang Jianlin | Founder of Dalian Wanda Group |
| 80 | Stephen Chow | Director and actor in Hong Kong cinema |
| 81 | Wong Kar-wai | Renowned film director |
| 82 | Leslie Cheung | Influential singer and actor |
| 83 | Andy Lau | Singer and actor, one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” |
| 84 | Jay Chou | Highly influential Mandopop singer-songwriter |
| 85 | Liu Xiang | Olympic gold medalist in hurdles |
| 86 | Lin Dan | Two-time Olympic badminton champion |
| 87 | Sun Yang | Olympic gold medalist swimmer |
| 88 | Ma Long | Olympic gold medalist table tennis player |
| 89 | Cixin Liu | Hugo Award-winning science fiction author |
| 90 | Guo Moruo | Modern poet, historian, and archaeologist |
| 91 | Shen Kuo | Polymath and scientist of the Song dynasty |
| 92 | Guo Ziyi | General who ended the An Lushan Rebellion |
| 93 | Wei Zheng | Statesman and advisor to Emperor Taizong |
| 94 | Bao Zheng | Song dynasty official and symbol of justice |
| 95 | Zheng Guanying | Reformer and merchant of the late Qing |
| 96 | Yan Fu | Scholar who introduced Western ideas to China |
| 97 | Cai Yuanpei | Educator and president of Peking University |
| 98 | Mei Lanfang | Renowned Peking Opera artist |
| 99 | Xu Zhimo | Modern romantic poet |
| 100 | Ai Weiwei | Contemporary artist and activist |
Read more: The 100 Most Famous Chinese Women of All Time
In conclusion,
These individuals represent the diverse legacy of Chinese civilization. Their achievements in governance, thought, and culture continue to define the nation’s historical and modern identity.
Hello! I’m Emma Carter, born in 1990, and a passionate child development specialist. Alongside my work, I have a deep love for helping parents discover beautiful and meaningful baby names. I believe a name is more than just a label — it’s the beginning of a child’s story. I draw inspiration from languages, cultures, traditions, and even the hidden meanings behind names to help find the perfect fit for every little one’s bright future.