Song Qingling (1893-1981), was born in Shanghai but educated in the United States. In fact, she and her three sisters were the first Chinese girls to be educated in the US. She and her sisters, being from a prominent and influential Chinese family, all married important players in China's 20th century political scene. Song Qingling married Sun Yatsen, the father of Republican China and the Guomindang Party.

Song Qingling was prominent in Guomindang politics and later in Communist politics after 1949. She particularly focused on women's rights in China. In 1981, she was named Honorary Chairman of the People's Republic of China in honor of her dedicated service to the country.