While more and more young people in China are familiar with foreign stars through pop music and blockbuster movies, one might wonder which foreigners have real name recognition throughout the country. Even more interesting is the unexpected reasons those people are admired for, which is often different from those in their home countries. Foreign icons can serve as lessons in class and role models that parents use to teach children good values. And while it would seem that people look up to those who reinforce traditional Chinese ideas, it’s those who embody cultural values that are foreign to China who often garner the most respect.

1) Thomas Edison    托马斯·爱迪生 (tuo ma si ai di sheng)
One of the most respected Americans in China, Edison is a symbol of both ingenuity and business prowess. While his 1879 patent of the light bulb is probably his most remembered achievement, he is equally famous for his lifelong diligence and highly profitable research laboratory, Menlo Park. He is often portrayed in schools as an example of how a lifetime of hard work can lead to personal and financial success.

2) Norman Bethune诺尔曼·白求恩 (nuo er man bai qiu en)
Virtually unknown in his native Canada, Bethune is remembered somewhat for his work as a battle physician in the Spanish Civil War. His experience there turned him to Communism, and he made his way to Shaanxi to help the Red Army fight the Japanese in 1938. He died a short time later while working with the Eight Road Army (八路军) and was commemorated by Mao Zedong in the essay, “In Memory of Norman Bethune (紀念白求恩).” The essay became required reading during the 1960s, and is still commonly found in schools today.

3) Audrey Hepburn   奥黛丽·赫本 (ao de li he ben)
Considered ‘a great beauty’ by men and women alike, there are few in China who haven’t seen at least one Audrey Hepburn movie. Some say she is popular because her innocent, coquette demeanour resembles that of a young Chinese girl. But standards of beauty in China can be quite different from those elsewhere and she seems to be the one foreign celebrity that everyone can agree on. Her most famous films are Roman Holiday (罗马假日) and My Fair Lady (窈窕淑女).

4) Steve Jobs   史蒂夫·乔布斯 (shi di fu qiao bu si)

Even before his recent passing, Steve Jobs was one of the most talked about figures in the technology industry. Apple was virtually unknown in China before the iPod, but it and the iPhone quickly became the must-have items of the growing middle and upper class. Apple’s meteoric rise solidified Jobs’ status as a genius of design, innovation and business. Chinese language biographies are already appearing in Xinhua bookstores with insights into how to apply Jobs’ methods in other arenas.

5) Warren Buffet   沃伦·巴菲特 (wo lun ba fei te)

Like the equally famous Bill Gates, Warren Buffet is a renowned billionaire/philanthropist. His often generous donations to charitable organisations makes Buffet a respected figure in China, but his success in currency trading made him a real star. He was one of the few traders to predict the Asian financial crisis in the 90’s, and since then his opinions have been highly valued by stockbrokers and newspaper readers alike.

6) Lady Gaga   (Lady Gaga)
There seems to be no Chinese name for Lady Gaga, which reflects the youth of her fan base as well as the ease of pronouncing her name. In fact the phrase “that’s very Lady Gaga”(那很Lady Gaga) for something flashy or wild is acceptable in most circles under 30. It is her flash and outrageous style that she’s famous for, though, and not her music. As an icon of unbridled freedom and openness, she appeals to many who wish to express themselves more freely.

7) Mark Roswell   大山 (da shan)
Da Shan is also little-known in his native Canada, but he’s been a media fixture in China since the 80’s. It’s true that plenty of foreign viewers of CCTV news find him a bit too enthusiastic for a low budget educational programme, if not an awkward tool of government propaganda. However Da Shan was one of the first foreigners to get on TV using Chinese and his mastery of the Chinese comedic art of crosstalk (相声) is yet to be matched by anyone. His yearly appearance on CCTV 1’s New Year’s Eve special means he’s the most watched foreigner in China.

8) Arnold Schwarzenegger   阿诺德·施瓦辛格 (a nuo de shu wa xin ge)

Most men in China have seen a few Schwarzenegger movies, and James Cameron’s popularity means they’ve at least seen Terminator 2. But his incredible biography is as famous as his movies. Legend says he vowed to move to America, marry a Kennedy and become president. Making it all the way to governing California, Schwarzenegger is recognised in China as a modern representation of the American Dream. His recent scandal has certainly soured this reputation, but his fame endures.

9) Michael Jordan    迈克尔·乔丹 (mai ke er qiu dan)

Today, Yao Ming is the professional basketball player most associated with China, but Michael Jordan was the first real NBA star to make an impression. Just as the Rockets are most people’s favourite team today, the Bulls topped fan lists back in the 90s. Beyond his incredible feats on the court, most people revere him as a good sportsman and all-around nice guy.

10) Michael Jackson   迈克尔杰克逊 (mai ke er jie ke xun)
It may be a no-brainer that the King of Pop tops a lot of people’s favourite list in China – it’s true of a lot of countries in the world. But Michael Jackson’s worldwide popularity is an interesting reflection of the historical conditions at the time. The early 1980’s saw a lot of Communist countries opening to foreign media, and Michael Jackson’s rise on radio and TV coincided perfectly with this new exposure. Michael Jackson was many people’s first modern pop star.
 

Related links
Your Guide to the Stars: Popular Chinese Movie Stars
Big in Asia: China’s Hottest Female Stars
Chinese Bloggers: Idols of the New Netizens

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