Chinese history is shaped by remarkable women who excelled in politics, arts, and science. This list honors those who broke barriers and left an enduring legacy on global and Chinese culture.
The 100 Most Famous Chinese Women of All Time
| No. | Name | Occupation / Why Famous |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wu Zetian | Only female emperor in Chinese history |
| 2 | Empress Dowager Cixi | De facto ruler of the Qing Dynasty for 47 years |
| 3 | Mulan | Legendary folk heroine and warrior |
| 4 | Song Qingling | Politician and Vice President of China; wife of Sun Yat-sen |
| 5 | Tu Youyou | Pharmaceutical chemist and Nobel Prize winner |
| 6 | Wang Zhaojun | One of the Four Beauties of ancient China |
| 7 | Xi Shi | Legendary beauty of the Spring and Autumn period |
| 8 | Diaochan | Fictional beauty from Romance of the Three Kingdoms |
| 9 | Yang Guifei | Beloved consort of Emperor Xuanzong |
| 10 | Ban Zhao | First known female Chinese historian |
| 11 | Li Qingzhao | Famous poet of the Song Dynasty |
| 12 | Cai Yan | Han Dynasty poet and musician |
| 13 | Lin Huiyin | Architect and writer; first female architect in modern China |
| 14 | Eileen Chang | Influential modern novelist and essayist |
| 15 | Qiu Jin | Revolutionary, feminist, and writer |
| 16 | Song Meiling | First Lady of the Republic of China; wife of Chiang Kai-shek |
| 17 | Wu Jianxiong | Experimental physicist; the “First Lady of Physics” |
| 18 | Zhang Ziyi | Internationally acclaimed film actress |
| 19 | Gong Li | Award-winning film actress |
| 20 | Michelle Yeoh | Academy Award-winning actress born to Chinese parents |
| 21 | Empress Lu Zhi | First female empress consort of the Han Dynasty |
| 22 | Princess Wencheng | Princess who spread Buddhism to Tibet |
| 23 | Qin Liangyu | General known for defending the Ming Dynasty |
| 24 | Liang Hongyu | Song Dynasty general and military hero |
| 25 | Lady Fu Hao | Shang Dynasty queen and military general |
| 26 | Empress Ma | Consort of the Hongwu Emperor known for her kindness |
| 27 | Empress Xu | Ming Dynasty empress and scholar |
| 28 | He Xiangning | Revolutionary and painter |
| 29 | Ding Ling | Prolific modern author and feminist activist |
| 30 | Bing Xin | Famous writer of children’s literature |
| 31 | Sanmao | Influential travel writer and novelist |
| 32 | Wu Yifang | First woman to head a university in China |
| 33 | Margaret Chan | Former Director-General of the World Health Organization |
| 34 | Carrie Lam | Former Chief Executive of Hong Kong |
| 35 | Lang Ping | Legendary volleyball player and coach |
| 36 | Guo Jingjing | Multiple Olympic gold medalist in diving |
| 37 | Li Na | First Asian tennis player to win a Grand Slam |
| 38 | Yao Chen | Popular actress and philanthropist |
| 39 | Fan Bingbing | High-profile actress and fashion icon |
| 40 | Faye Wong | Legendary C-pop singer and actress |
| 41 | Teresa Teng | Iconic singer of “The Moon Represents My Heart” |
| 42 | Anita Mui | Famous Hong Kong singer and actress |
| 43 | Maggie Cheung | Critically acclaimed film actress |
| 44 | Zhou Jihong | First Chinese Olympic gold medalist in diving |
| 45 | Deng Yaping | Table tennis legend and Olympic champion |
| 46 | Fu Mingxia | Renowned Olympic diver |
| 47 | Wang Junxia | Record-breaking long-distance runner |
| 48 | Zheng Jie | Professional tennis player |
| 49 | Zhang Yining | Dominant table tennis world champion |
| 50 | Liu Yang | First Chinese woman in space |
| 51 | Wang Yaping | First Chinese woman to perform a spacewalk |
| 52 | Ye Qiaobo | Speed skater and Olympic medalist |
| 53 | Yang Yang (A) | First Chinese Winter Olympic gold medalist |
| 54 | Gao Min | Undefeated diving champion |
| 55 | Chen Lu | Figure skating champion |
| 56 | Lu Xiuyan | Former Governor of Taiwan Province |
| 57 | Wu Yi | Former Vice Premier of China |
| 58 | Liu Yandong | Former Vice Premier and high-ranking official |
| 59 | Sun Chunlan | Member of the Politburo of the CCP |
| 60 | Yan Geling | Renowned novelist and screenwriter |
| 61 | Yu Hua | Influential contemporary writer |
| 62 | Wang Anyi | Award-winning contemporary novelist |
| 63 | Zhang Haidi | Writer and disability rights activist |
| 64 | Lu Hsiu-lien | Former Vice President of the Republic of China |
| 65 | Tsai Ing-wen | First female President of the Republic of China |
| 66 | Lucy Liu | American actress of Chinese descent |
| 67 | Vera Wang | Renowned fashion designer |
| 68 | Guo Jianmei | Human rights lawyer and activist |
| 69 | Wang Laichun | Billionaire electronics entrepreneur |
| 70 | Wu Yajun | Real estate billionaire and entrepreneur |
| 71 | Zhou Qunfei | Founder of Lens Technology; billionaire |
| 72 | Dong Mingzhu | Chairwoman of Gree Electric |
| 73 | Zhang Xin | Co-founder of SOHO China |
| 74 | Liu Nan | Entrepreneur and founder of Mia.com |
| 75 | Hu Die | Famous silent film star |
| 76 | Ruan Lingyu | Iconic tragic actress of the 1930s |
| 77 | Zhou Xuan | Legendary singer and film star |
| 78 | Shangguan Yunzhu | Renowned actress of the 1940s |
| 79 | Lin Dai | Award-winning Hong Kong actress |
| 80 | Joan Chen | International actress and director |
| 81 | Tang Wei | Critically acclaimed actress |
| 82 | Li Bingbing | International film actress |
| 83 | Zhao Wei | Actress, director, and entrepreneur |
| 84 | Zhou Xun | Award-winning actress and singer |
| 85 | Yang Mi | Popular television and film actress |
| 86 | Liu Yifei | Actress known for “Mulan” and “The Forbidden Kingdom” |
| 87 | G.E.M. | Popular singer-songwriter |
| 88 | Chris Lee (Li Yuchun) | Pop star and fashion icon |
| 89 | Jolin Tsai | C-pop superstar |
| 90 | CoCo Lee | International pop singer |
| 91 | Chien-Shiung Wu | Physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project |
| 92 | Wang Zhenyi | Qing Dynasty astronomer and mathematician |
| 93 | Lin Qiaozhi | Pioneer of Chinese gynecology and obstetrics |
| 94 | He Zehui | Nuclear physicist |
| 95 | Zhang Kangkang | Famous contemporary writer |
| 96 | Tie Ning | President of the China Writers Association |
| 97 | Yang Lan | Media mogul and television host |
| 98 | Jin Xing | Renowned dancer and television host |
| 99 | Pema Tseden | Notable figure in Tibetan-Chinese culture |
| 100 | Zhang Miaojie | Modern pioneer in environmental activism |
Read more: The 100 Most Famous Chinese Men of All Time
In conclusion,
These one hundred women represent the diverse contributions of females across millennia of Chinese history. Their achievements in leadership, science, and the arts continue to inspire the world.
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.