# Yan Xishan

_Chinese military officer (1883–1960)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/yan-xishan
Last updated: 2026-11-10

> Yan Xishan was a Chinese warlord who served in the government of the Republic of China from June 1949 to March 1950 as its last premier in mainland China and first premier in Taiwan. He effectively controlled the province of Shanxi from the 1911 Xinhai Revolution to the 1949 Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War. He maintained an ambivalent attitude towards the Communists until 1939, and participated in the Second United Front against the Japanese from 1937. He subsequently negotiated with the Japanese from 1940 to 1943, and allied himself with the Japanese against the Communists from 1944 until fleeing Shanxi in 1949. The resistance of his well-armed forces in Taiyuan posed a major obstacle to Communist victory in the Civil War.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 8 August 1883 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Dingxiang County ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P19))
- **Died:** 23 May 1960 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P570))
- **Place of death:** Taipei ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Qing dynasty; Republic of China ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; military personnel ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P106))
- **Political party:** Kuomintang ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P102))
- **Education:** Imperial Japanese Army Academy ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P69))
- **Positions held:** Premier of the Republic of China (1949–1950) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of Blue Sky and White Sun ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698#P166))

## Questions

**When was Yan Xishan born?**  
Yan Xishan was born on 8 August 1883 in Dingxiang County.

**What positions has Yan Xishan held?**  
Positions held by Yan Xishan include: Premier of the Republic of China (1949–1950).

**Where did Yan Xishan study?**  
Yan Xishan was educated at Imperial Japanese Army Academy.

## Related

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- [Wu Den-yih](https://diginpl.com/people/wu-den-yih)
- [Yen Chia-kan](https://diginpl.com/people/yen-chia-kan)
- [Frank Hsieh](https://diginpl.com/people/frank-hsieh)
- [Wang Jingwei](https://diginpl.com/people/wang-jingwei)
- [Lee Huan](https://diginpl.com/people/lee-huan)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Yan Xishan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yan_Xishan) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q699698](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q699698) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Yan Xishan.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yan_Xishan.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Yan Xishan, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Yan Xishan.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Yan Xishan". DigiNepal. Last updated 10 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/yan-xishan. Retrieved 14 November 2026.