China released a 60-second television commercial to coincide with President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the U.S., and broadcast it in Times Square in New York City. The commercial was one of the most heavily searched items of Tuesday, January 18, on Baidu. The spot features many Chinese celebrities as well as “ordinary Chinese people,” in an effort to put China’s best foot–or its best face–forward. Who are they, you ask? We’ll tell you where we can. Unfortunately, all we’ve been able to see so far is blurry camera footage of the commercial, so many names are unclear. Where multiple people appear, names are given left to right.

You can see the footage on YouTube here. We’ll be sure to link to a better version and correct inevitable mistakes once we have that.

Stunning Chinese Beauty

• Zhang Zilin (supermodel)
• Zhou Xun (actress)
• Yang Liping (dancer)
• Fan Bingbing (actress)
• Zhang Ziyi (actress)
• Thousand-armed Guan Yin (popular performance from CCTV New Years Extravaganza 2008)

Chinese Bravery

• Unknown woman and child
• Ling Hao (hero of the Wenchuan Earthquake of May 2008)
• Liu Guochang
• Donnie Yen (actor and martial artist)

Award-Winning Chinese Talent

• John Woo (director)
• Chen Kaige (director)

Chinese Art

• Huang Yongyu (master traditional painter)
• Tan Dun (Chinese-American composer)
• Lang Lang (pianist)
• Liu Huan (pop singer)
• Song Zuying (soprano)
• Yundi (pianist)
• Name unclear

Cutting-edge Chinese Agriculture

• Yuan Longping (father of hybrid rice)

Chinese Wealth

• Robin Li (founder and CEO of Baidu)
• Ding Lei (founder and CEO of Netease)
• Ma Yun (Jack Ma, founder and CEO of Alibaba)
• Wang Jianzhou (CEO, China Mobile)

(Extra-)ordinary Chinese People

Thrilling Chinese Athletes

• Guo Jingjing (diver)
• Lang Ping (volleyball star)
• Name unclear
• Ding Junhui (champion snooker player)
• Yao Ming (basketball star)
• Deng Yaping (ping-pong champion)

Provoking Chinese Scholarship

• Shing-tung Yau (Chinese-American mathematician)
• Name unclear
• Sun Jiadong (rocket scientist)
• Li Yining (economist)
• Cen Zheng (rocket scientist)

Chinese Design

• Name unclear
• Name unclear
• Name unclear
• Name unclear
• Chang Yung Ho (architect)

Stunning Chinese Supermodels

• Name unclear
• Ma Yanli (supermodel)
• Name unclear
• Name unclear

Stimulating Chinese Dialogue

• Chen Luyu (CCTV host)
• Shui Junyi (CCTV anchor)
• Jing Yidan (CCTV anchor)
• Bai Yansong (CCTV host)

Chinese Space Travel

• Name obscured
• Name obscured
• Yang Liwei (Taikonaut hero, )
• Fei Junlong (Taikonaut)
• Jing Haifeng
• Liu Boning

READ MORE