President of the People's Republic of China

List of heads of state

Chairman of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China
Mao Zedong (1 October 1949 - 27 September 1954)

Chairmen of the People's Republic of China
Mao Zedong (27 September 1954 - 27 April 1959)
Liu Shaoqi (27 April 1959 - 31 October 1968)
No successor of Liu Shaoqi was selected, so the vice-chairmen assumed the role of acting heads of state:
Dong Biwu (31 October 1968 - 17 January 1975)
Soong Ching-ling (31 October 1968 - 24 February 1972)
The position of Chairman was officially abolished in 1975 and the functions of head of State were formally transmitted to the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.


Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
Zhu De (17 January 1975 - 6 July 1976)
From July 6, 1976 to March 5, 1978 the position remained vacant. The duties of head of state were collectively executed by the twenty vice-chairmen[1].
Ye Jianying (5 March 1978 - 18 June 1983)
On 16 May 1981, the title of Honorary President of the People's Republic of China was conferred on Soong Ching-ling by the National People's Congress. She died two weeks later on 29 May 1981. The powers of the head of state reverted to the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.


Honorary President of the People's Republic of China
Soong Ching-ling (May 16, 1981 - May 28, 1981)

Presidents of the People's Republic of China
Li Xiannian (18 June 1983 - 8 April 1988)
Yang Shangkun (8 April 1988 - 27 March 1993)
Jiang Zemin (27 March 1993 - 15 March 2003)
Hu Jintao (since 15 March 2003)

References and notes
^ They were, in order of ranking, Wu De (b. 1914 - d. 1995), Song Qingling (b. 1893 - d. 1981), Liu Bocheng, Wei Guoqing, Seypidin, Chen Yun, Tan Zhenlin, Li Jingquan, Ulanhu, Guo Moruo, Xu Xiangqian, Nie Rongzhen, Zhang Dingcheng, Cai Chang, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, Zhou Jianren, Xu Deheng, Hu Juewen, Li Suwen, Yao Lianwei, and, from 2 Dec 1976, Deng Yingchao (b. 1904 - d. 1992)