Many anime characters are often of Japanese descent, considering that anime itself is Japanese animation. However, there are a notable amount of characters that have Chinese origins.
Many of these Chinese anime characters are often depicted as martial artists, such as Pao Lin, Fon, and Bu-Ling. However, other characters either break this typecasting such as Melissa Mao being a Marine or are in positions of power, such as Lau being the branch manager of a trading company. No matter what roles they had, however, each of these characters is iconic for their personalities, talents, and relationships with other characters.
10 Pao Lin Huang Came From China (Tiger & Bunny)
Pao Lin, also known as the hero Dragon Kid, was one of the many heroes featured in the superhero anime Tiger & Bunny. She was a skilled martial artist and could also manipulate lightning. Her manager and legal guardian, Natasha, represented Pao Lin since both of her parents still lived in China at the time.
Pao Lin's uniform, despite representing Japanese sponsors, was styled like a Cheongsam-styled tunic with pumpkin shorts, arm, and leg guards, and a dragon on the tip of her staff to emphasize her Chinese origins.
9 Guang Hong Ji Was A Chinese Figure Skater (Yuri!!! On Ice)
Guang Hong Ji was a Chinese figure skater featured in Yuri!!! On Ice. He is great friends with Phichit and also Leo de la Iglesia, competing at Skate America and the Cup of China with the latter. Even his amazing free skate routine, "The Inferno," was supposed to be based on a fictional movie where he was an assassin, though his coach Xiao Yi wanted to represent him as "Hero of China" instead.
The music from the free skate also incorporated using a huqin, a traditional Chinese string instrument at the beginning of the routine.
8 Ryuu Roumen Was Matsushiro's Friend And Competed Against Azuma In the Yakitate!! 9 Arc (Yakitate!! Japan)
Ryuu Roumen initially held a mentor role when teaching Kawachi and Azuma how to make noodles at his Chinese restaurant, during the Pantasia Newcomers arc. He also informed Azuma and Kawachi about Spencer Henry Hoko's vast experience with making noodle bread.
He later reappeared in the Yaktiate!! 9 arc as one of their opponents, making Chinese-style steamed pork dumplings. However, judge Ryou Kuroyanagi could not taste the dumplings during judging because he lost his sense of taste. Kuroyanagi's sense of taste was later restored by eating Azuma's own dumplings, thus beating Ryuu since he failed to do so.
7 Lau Is Chinese Nobility And The British Branch Manager Of A Trading Company (Black Butler)
Lau was a Chinese nobleman and the British branch manager of the trading company "Kong-Rong." He also operated opium dens and had to follow Ciel Phantomhive's orders so his business could function in London's "underworld." He assisted Ciel and Sebastian with investigating Jack The Ripper during the Red Butler arc, and also appeared in later arcs including the Indian Butler arc and the Phantomhive Manor Murders arc.
He also had a personal assassin, Ran-Mao, who worked for him and often accompanied him wherever he went.
6 Syaoran Li Is the Heir To A Sorcerer Clan From Hong Kong (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Syaoran Li was the heir to a sorcerer clan from Hong Kong in Cardcaptor Sakura. He was initially presented as a rival towards Sakura over the Clow Cards, but they gradually became friends and even fell in love with each other. In contrast to Sakura, Syaoran was very serious and enjoyed reading books that Clow Reed wrote.
Clow Reed's mother was also part of the clan that Syaoran was part of, which reinforced Syaoran's initial belief that he should be the one to capture the Clow Cards and not Sakura.
5 Chang Wufei Was Exiled To A Colony Because The Government Feared His Clan's Strength (Gundam Wing)
Chang Wufei grew up as an heir of the Long Clan in Colony A0206. The Chinese government feared the clan and exiled them to the colony because of their strength. He eventually married Master Long's granddaughter Meiran, but they did not get along because of their conflicting preferences and ideals.
After the colony was attacked by the United Earth Sphere Alliance, Meiran died of her injuries while trying to protect Chang, Chang decided to take on her fight for justice, renamed his Gundam "Nataku" to honor her, and joined Operation Meteor.
4 Fon Is A Martial Arts Champion (Reborn)
Fon from Reborn was a Chinese martial artist and holder of the Red Arcobaleno Pacifier. Fon is also good at bringing medical aid to others on top of his martial arts skills. It was revealed, when he changed into his adult form, that he has a large dragon tattoo that wrapped around his left arm and ended on the left side of his chest.
His many attacks included the Exploding Gale Fist, the Exploding Dragon Fire Dance, and the Exploding Lotus Kempo. He also cared for the well-being of his student I-Pin, but never spoiled her as he wanted to give her valuable lessons for her growth.
3 Yui-Li Wanted Revenge For Her Dead Family (Vampire Princess Miyu)
Yui-Li was a Chinese warrior priestess who arrived in Japan to get revenge on Koh-Waku for killing her family. After she initially mistook Miyu to be Koh-Waku, she rebuffed Miyu's offer to help her.
Yui-Li then confronted Koh-Waku in battle, who almost overwhelmed her by using copies of those she loved against her. Miyu and her companions saved her and defeated Koh-Waku, and Yui-Li begged Miyu to drink her blood so she could forget the memories of her losses. However, Miyu refused, forcing her to live with those memories instead.
2 Bu-Ling Huang Had To Take Care Of Her Family's Finances (Tokyo Mew Mew)
Bu-Ling Huang was the fourth Mew Mew to be introduced in Tokyo Mew Mew, and her D.N.A. was merged with a golden lion tamarin. Her mother died when she was very young, leaving her in the care of her five siblings. Her father, meanwhile, was a master of many fighting styles and often trained in China, meaning that Bu-Ling did not get to see her father often.
To support her family, she would perform tricks in the park. Much like her father, she was also extremely good at martial arts and knew how to swim. Viewers hoped to see more of her in the upcoming reboot.
1 Melissa Mao Ran Away From Home To Join The Marines (Full Metal Panic!)
Melissa Mao was a Chinese-American private military contractor and a former marine. She was born to Chinese-American parents and was raised under strict Chinese traditions, including a supposed arranged marriage. However, she ran away from home and joined the United States Marine Corps to avoid marriage.
She later went to Hong Kong after leaving the Marine Corps and stayed with her maternal relatives before being scouted by Mithril to join their Special Response Team.