Fine China

A staple of Kung Fu movies, Drunken Fist is a traditional style of Wushu that imitates the movements of a drunken man. Chin Gentsai is a supposed practitioner of the martial art, but he has no need to mimic anyone because he’s usually plastered for real. (The dude uses sake bottles as weapons and his breath is literally flammable!) Chin would prefer to live a secluded life in the mountains, but he takes on a fair amount of responsibility when he decides to mentor a trio of students in preparation for an oncoming evil. Incidentally, he can sober up periodically when the situation calls for it. He’s not necessarily the best representative of Chinese culture, but I felt compelled to mention him. This list is filled with pretty girls in slinky dresses, so an elderly drunk man is just the guy to keep things in balance.

Although Ling Xiaoyu looks and acts like a run-of-the-mill Japanese genki girl, she’s also a walking Chinese stereotype in many regards. She knows martial arts, she wears a qipao, and her best friend is a panda! Energetic and enthusiastic, Ling divides her time between fighting tournaments and amusement parks. In fact, her main reason for fighting is to win enough money to open up a park of her own. It would be hard to dislike someone like Ling, and her youthful exuberance makes her stand out from the joyless martial artists that she runs with. Her motivations are even more childish than her appearance, but she holds her own against the world’s best fighters. To that end, she demonstrates remarkable flexibility and explosive power. She’s also unpredictable enough to pull off combos with her back turned!

Pai Chan is a star of Hong Kong action flicks and the daughter of a renowned martial arts master. Her fighting style was derived from the ways of the Shaolin, and it’s characterized by deceptive hand movement, intricate footwork, and astonishing flexibility. Pai is a passionate fighter who enters tournaments to test her skills and face her estranged father. She’s not especially successful in her endeavors and she has trouble keeping her emotions in check, but you have to admire her tenacity. Even though her father is a superior martial artist who won the first World Fighting Tournament, Pai Chan has a larger fanbase in the gaming community. Outside of the Virtua Fighter series, she has made cameo appearances in several other games – including Fighters Megamix, Project X Zone, Dead or Alive 5.

Chinese people in pop culture usually fall into one of two categories: They’re either good at math or they know martial arts. Video games tend to focus on the latter stereotype, but Mei-Ling Zhou proudly represents the nerds. The creative climatologist was part of an initiative to study abnormal weather patterns and their effects on different ecosystems. Many people insist that global warming was a hoax created by the Chinese, so it’s fitting for Mei to be an expert in climate manipulation. While stationed in Antarctica, a catastrophic storm destroyed the research facility and left Mei frozen in ice. After waking up (some nine years later), she continued the fight to preserve the environment. Her array of weather-altering devices can shoot icicles, unleash frost streams, and create ice walls. The Chinese have a knack for building walls.

A cheerful young woman who catches opponents off guard with elegant fighting moves and nimble footwork, Chai Xianghua was sent by the Ming Emperor to retrieve a cursed sword imbued with the power to consume souls and enslave minds. A teenage girl might seem an unlikely candidate for such an important task, but Xianghua was trained in swordplay from a young age and surpassed many of the monks at the temple. Her style relies heavily on feints and evasive maneuvers, and she even pulls one over on her Emperor when she destroys the very sword she was sent to retrieve. She felt guilty for lying to her superiors, but, like the lotus flowers she surrounds herself with, her decision reflected the purity of the heart and mind. Xianghua has a tendency to joke around, but she always ensures that justice will prevail! (Just kidding!)

Roughly half of Chinese video game characters draw inspiration from Bruce Lee, so it’s probably not surprising to see Liu Kang on this list. (He looks like Bruce Lee, he dresses like Bruce Lee, and he even sounds like Bruce Lee.) Under the guidance of the thunder god Raiden, Liu Kang entered the Mortal Kombat tournament to defend the Earthrealm from evil overlords. Incidentally, his rigorous training as a Shaolin monk made him the realm’s best hope for freedom. Liu Kang was successful in this endeavor, and he went on to win the next three tournaments as well. He’d probably have won even more tournaments if he hadn’t been turned into a zombie. Whether he’s flying across the screen with his trademark bicycle kick or taking the form of a serpentine dragon, the spiritual warrior can contend with the best of them.

Jam Kuradoberi is a part-time bounty hunter and an aspiring restaurateur. She’s a formidable martial artist who has the ability to manipulate energy, but she’d much rather spend her time preparing delicious dishes for everyone. She has trouble getting her restaurant off the ground and has terrible luck in her business endeavors, but this doesn’t make her any less passionate. She’s able to make money on the side by fighting, so it’s fortunate that her Chinese dresses are appropriate for both cooking and kicking. On that note, Jam is one of the few Guilty Gear characters that uses a traditional fighting style. Jam takes great pride in her heritage, and she looks and behaves like a typical anime Chinese girl. She’s impulsive and a little bit silly, but it’s hard not to be drawn in by her cheerful personality.

The Dynasty Warriors series centers around characters and conflicts from one of the most turbulent eras of ancient Chinese history. (I generally don’t include real-life individuals on these lists, but Dynasty Warriors is fair game since the cast members are exaggerated versions of their real-life selves.) Dozens of characters have been featured in the series thus far, but Zhao Yun is the face of the franchise. A courageous and virtuous general, Zhao Yun faces impossible odds with stride. His deep sense of loyalty is apparent to all, and he occasionally runs into enemy lines by himself! Although there are other Dynasty Warriors characters who are more powerful, Zhao Yun is the ideal poster boy for an action-based franchise. On that note, his dragon spear lends itself well to his fast-paced style.

A beautiful young woman who has seen success in many fields, Litchi Faye-Ling is a renowned doctor and skilled martial artist who is as kind-hearted as she is sexy. She’s largely defined by her compassionate personality and her protective nature, but – like many of her colleagues – I’m equally fascinated by her fashion sense. (Her fighting style puts emphasis on her spectacular legs, and the “Boobie Lady” nickname is well-earned.) BlazBlue takes place in a future where magic exists alongside technology, but the Shanghai native is every bit as traditional as her contemporary counterparts on this list. On that note, Litchi wears a red qipao, a panda hairpin, and a yin yang brooch. Also, her attacks are named after Mahjong hands, her battle cries reference Chinese constellations, and her birthday falls on the date of the Qixi Festival.

Was there even a question as to who would land the number one position? The First Lady of Fighting Games (and the strongest woman in the world) is one of the most recognizable figures in all of gaming. Outside of the Street Fighter series, she has made dozens of cameo appearances in other games. She has also been the subject of comic books, feature films, and some incredible cosplay. Chun-Li is naturally cheerful and upbeat, but she’s a highly disciplined individual. After her father was killed in cold blood, she joined Interpol in an effort to avenge his death. Chun-Li’s job requires her to travel around the world, but she represents her country by wearing classical Chinese dresses and practicing traditional martial arts. Chun-Li achieves a perfect balance between strong and sexy, and few gaming characters are more iconic than she is.