Famous Chinese Directors

Vote for Your Favourite Chinese Directors

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 1 
Chloe Zhao
(Known for Her Independent Films 'The Rider' and 'Songs My Brothers Taught Me')
Chloe Zhao
4
Birthdate: March 31, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Beijing, China
Chinese filmmaker Chloé Zhao is best known for directing films such as Songs My Brothers Taught Me and The Rider, both of which earned Independent Spirit Award nominations. Her film Nomadland won her the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. She is also directing the Marvel film Eternals.
 2 
Ai Weiwei
(Artistic Consultant for Design of the Beijing National Stadium)
Ai Weiwei
3
Birthdate: August 28, 1957
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Beijing, China
Named Art Review’s most powerful artist in 2011, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has become a symbol of resilience against the authoritarian Chinese government. Jailed and banned from leaving the country once, he is known for using various media, such as sculpture, photos, and documentaries, to reflect Chinese human-rights abuses.
 3 
John Woo
(Hong Kong Filmmaker)
John Woo
3
Birthdate: September 22, 1946
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Guangzhou, China
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
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 4 
Joan Chen
(Actress Who Gained Fame for her Role in 'The Last Emperor')
Joan Chen
3
Birthdate: April 26, 1961
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Shanghai, China
Chinese-American actor Joan Chen initially came to be known for the films Little Flower and The Last Emperor and later appeared as Jocelyn 'Josie' Packard in the series Twin Peaks. She also delivered a multiple-award-winning role in The Home Song Stories and directed Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.
 5 
Zhao Wei
(One of the Most Popular Actresses in China)
Zhao Wei
3
Birthdate: March 12, 1976
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Wuhu, China

Zhao Wei is a Chinese actress, filmmaker, pop singer, and businesswoman. One of the most popular Chinese actresses, Zhao is also one of the highest-paid actresses in China. Renowned for her performance in popular films like Shaolin Soccer, Zhao Wei is widely considered the first national idol of Mainland China since the Chinese economic reform in 1978.

 6 
Zhang Yimou
(Chinese Film Director Known for His Films That Explore Sexual Repression and Political Oppression)
Zhang Yimou
3
Birthdate: November 14, 1951
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

Part of the Chinese Fifth Generation of filmmakers, Zhang Yimou is best known for his Academy Award-nominated films Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, and Hero. His most expensive film, The Great Wall, was, however, a box-office failure. He also directed part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

 7 
Wang Leehom
(American Singer, Actor, Songwriter, Film Producer, and Director)
Wang Leehom
3
Birthdate: May 17, 1976
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, U.S.
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 8 
Wu Jing
(Chinese Actor, Director and Martial Artist)
Wu Jing
3
Birthdate: April 3, 1974
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Beijing, China

Wu Jing is a Chinese martial artist, actor, and director best known for playing important roles in martial arts films like Fatal Contact, Tai Chi Boxer, and the SPL films. Widely regarded as one of the most bankable Chinese actors of all time, Wu Jing has been featured in the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list on a couple of occasions.

 9 
Jiang Wen
(Chinese Actor, Screenwriter and Director)
Jiang Wen
3
Birthdate: January 5, 1963
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Tangshan, Hebei, China
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 10 
Terence Young
(Irish Screenwriter and Film Director)
Terence Young
2
Birthdate: June 20, 1915
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Shanghai
Died: September 7, 1994
 11 
Hou Hsiao-hsien
(Mainland Chinese-Born Taiwanese Actor, Producer, Screenwriter, and Film Director)
Hou Hsiao-hsien
2
Birthdate: April 8, 1947
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Meixian District, Meizhou, China
 12 
Jia Zhangke
(Chinese Film Director Regarded as a Leading Figure of the 'Sixth Generation' Movement of Chinese Cinema)
Jia Zhangke
2
Birthdate: May 24, 1970
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Fenyang, Shanxi, China
 13 
Huang Bo
(Chinese Actor, Director, Singer and Vice-Chairman of China Film Association)
Huang Bo
2
Birthdate: August 26, 1974
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Qingdao, China
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 14 
Michael Hui
(Hong Kong Comedian, Actor, Director, and Scriptwriter)
Michael Hui
2
Birthdate: September 3, 1942
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Panyu District, Guangzhou, China
 15 
Ann Hui
(Chinese-Born Hong Kong Film Director, Producer, Actress, and Screenwriter)
Ann Hui
1
Birthdate: May 23, 1947
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Anshan, Liaoning, Manchuria
 16 
Xu Zheng
(Chinese Actor and Director)
Xu Zheng
1
Birthdate: April 18, 1972
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Shanghai, China
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 17 
Wu Ma
(Hong Kong Director, Producer, Actor, and Writer)
Wu Ma
0
Birthdate: September 22, 1942
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tianjin, China
Died: February 4, 2014
 18 
Xie Jin
(Chinese Film Director)
Xie Jin
1
Birthdate: November 21, 1923
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Shangyu District, Shaoxing, China
Died: October 18, 2008
 19 
Wu Tianming
(Chinese Film Producer and Director)
Wu Tianming
0
Birthdate: December 5, 1939
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sanyuan County, Xianyang, China
Died: March 4, 2014
 20 
Chen Yifei
(Chinese Classic-Style Painter, Film Director, and Art Director)
Chen Yifei
0
Birthdate: April 12, 1946
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ningbo, China
Died: April 10, 2005
 21 
Francis Mankiewicz
(Chinese-born Canadian Film Director, Producer, and Screenwriter)
Francis Mankiewicz
0
Birthdate: March 15, 1944
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Shanghai, China
Died: August 14, 1993
 22 
Dai Ailian
(Chinese Dancer and Teacher)
Dai Ailian
0
Birthdate: May 10, 1916
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago
Died: February 9, 2006
 23 
Zhang Junxiang
(Film director)
Zhang Junxiang
0
Birthdate: December 27, 1910
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Zhenjiang, China
Died: November 14, 1996
 24 
Hong Shen
(Chinese Film Director, Playwright, Film & Drama Theorist, Screenwriter, and Educator)
Hong Shen
0
Birthdate: December 31, 1894
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Changzhou, China
Died: August 29, 1955