Ulanhu, 1906-1988

Ulanhu or Ulanfu (Chinese: 乌兰夫; pinyin: Wūlánfū; 23 December 1907 – 8 December 1988), born Yun Ze (Chinese: 云泽), was the founding Chairman of China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, serving from 1947 to 1966. An ethnic Tumed Mongol, he took the nom de guerre Ulanhu (lit. 'Red son') and had the nickname of "Mongol Prince” during his political career. He served as Vice Premier between 1956 and 1966. He was purged during the Cultural Revolution but later reinstated. Between 1983 and 1988 he held the office of Vice President of China. Ulanhu was the highest-ranking minority official in PRC history, and became an icon of loyalty both to the Mongolian people and to the PRC. Except for the period of the Cultural Revolution, his family dominated the politics of Inner Mongolia. His son Buhe served as Chairman of Inner Mongolia for a decade, and his granddaughter Bu Xiaolin was appointed to the same position in 2016.