# Zhou Enlai

_1st Premier of the People's Republic of China_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/zhou-enlai
Last updated: 2026-10-09

> Zhou Enlai was a Chinese statesman, diplomat, and revolutionary who served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China from October 1949 until his death in January 1976. Zhou was among the Chinese Communist Party's earliest leaders, though he was subordinate to Mao Zedong following the Zunyi Conference. After the founding of the PRC, he helped Mao consolidate party power and shape foreign policy, while striving to maintain state operations amid tumultuous politics.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 5 March 1898 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Huai'an District ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P19))
- **Died:** 8 January 1976 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P570))
- **Place of death:** Beijing ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P20))
- **Citizenship:** People's Republic of China; Qing dynasty ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P27))
- **Occupation:** minister; foreign minister; politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P106))
- **Political party:** Kuomintang (1923–1927); Chinese Communist Party (since 1921) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P102))
- **Education:** Meiji University; Waseda University; Nankai University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P69))
- **Spouse:** Deng Yingchao ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P26))
- **Positions held:** Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (28 September 1956 – 1 August 1966); member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (28 September 1956 – 8 January 1976); Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (25 December 1954 – 8 January 1976); Premier of the People's Republic of China (27 September 1954 – 8 January 1976); National People's Congress deputy (15 September 1954 – 8 January 1976); Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (1 October 1949 – 11 February 1958); member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (1931–1945); Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China; member of the National Political Assembly ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P39))
- **Awards:** First Class Red Star Medal; Deshikottam; People's Liberation Army Strategist; Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410#P166))

## Questions

**When was Zhou Enlai born?**  
Zhou Enlai was born on 5 March 1898 in Huai'an District.

**What positions has Zhou Enlai held?**  
Positions held by Zhou Enlai include: Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (1956–1966); member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (1956–1976); Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (1954–1976); Premier of the People's Republic of China (1954–1976); National People's Congress deputy (1954–1976).

**Where did Zhou Enlai study?**  
Zhou Enlai was educated at Meiji University, Waseda University, Nankai University.

## Related

- [Li Xiannian](https://diginpl.com/people/li-xiannian)
- [Mao Zedong](https://diginpl.com/people/mao-zedong)
- [Xi Jinping](https://diginpl.com/people/xi-jinping)
- [Jiang Zemin](https://diginpl.com/people/jiang-zemin)
- [Li Keqiang](https://diginpl.com/people/li-keqiang)
- [Wen Jiabao](https://diginpl.com/people/wen-jiabao)
- [Liu Shaoqi](https://diginpl.com/people/liu-shaoqi)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Zhou Enlai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Enlai) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): चाउ एन लाइ](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9D%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%89_%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%87) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q17410](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17410) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Premier Chou En-Lai in the Great Hall of the People's Banquet Hall - DPLA - a40021a8100507bc7a244420481bf488.jpg by President (1969-1974 : Nixon). White House Photo Office. 1969-1974; General Services Administration. National Archives and Records Service. Office of Presidential Libraries. Office of Presidential Pap (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Premier_Chou_En-Lai_in_the_Great_Hall_of_the_People%27s_Banquet_Hall_-_DPLA_-_a40021a8100507bc7a244420481bf488.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Zhou Enlai, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Premier Chou En-Lai in the Great Hall of the People's Banquet Hall - DPLA - a40021a8100507bc7a244420481bf488.jpg — President (1969-1974 : Nixon). White House Photo Office. 1969-1974; General Services Administration. National Archives and Records Service. Office of Presidential Libraries. Office of Presidential Pap, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Zhou Enlai". DigiNepal. Last updated 9 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/zhou-enlai. Retrieved 21 October 2026.