Qinlei Yao

Yao Qinlei, born on May 22, 2010, in Houston, Texas, United States, weighed 3.6 kilograms at birth. She is the daughter of Yao Ming and Ye Li. Her paternal grandfather is Yao Zhi Yuan, who once played for Shanghai’s men’s basketball team and stands 2.08 meters tall; her paternal grandmother is Fang Fengdi, a former captain of the Chinese women’s basketball team, who is 1.88 meters tall. Her maternal grandmother is Gu Yuezhen, and her maternal grandfather is Ye Fa. Yao Qinlei’s name was publicly announced by Yao Ming on April 21, 2011. Her English name has been reported as “Amy,” and the name “Qinlei” is said to imply freshness and the budding of a flower. Regarding the Five Elements and the meaning of the characters, public information indicates that the name Qinlei is considered auspicious. In interviews, her father Yao Ming discussed his philosophy on raising a daughter.

Shortly after birth, Yao Qinlei arrived in Shanghai on May 26, 2011 with her parents and grandmother, marking her first return to China since birth. In July 2013, she accompanied her parents and Bulls’ star center Joakim Noah to a public event, drawing media attention. In August 2013, photos of her father giving basketball training lessons to her in Xiamen were released, prompting fan interest. On October 18, 2013, at the 2013 NBA China Games in Shanghai, Yao Ming, Ye Li, and Yao Qinlei attended to watch the game. On October 11, 2014, the NBA China Games in Shanghai continued, with Yao Ming attending with his wife and daughter and interacting with several NBA stars.

Beyond public appearances, Yao Qinlei also joined her parents at other public occasions. In July 2017, she attended a cruise-brand event with her parents. In December 2018, a netizen photographed her with her parents in Dubai. In June 2020, some media reported that Yao Ming, the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, accompanied his daughter, who was a little over ten, to a streetball court to watch a game; she watched the game with her father on the court. In July 2023, Yao Qinlei and her parents traveled in Yunnan, drawing media attention due to her height. In May 2024, she appeared with her parents at Qiandao Lake scenic area in Zhejiang Province, with video showing her helping her grandmother. On August 19, 2024, she attended the 2024 Yao Foundation Charity Match press conference with her parents. On July 1, 2025, the 15-year-old Yao Qinlei appeared in Shanghai, about 1.9 meters tall, accompanying her father Yao Ming.

Regarding nationality, in 2010 there were discussions about nationality arising from her birthplace, with some netizens considering her an American citizen. In September 2010, Yao Ming told CNN in an interview that a child born in the United States would have American citizenship by birth, but at 18 she could choose Chinese citizenship herself; whether she would represent China in the future would be up to her. Public information does not disclose her education history or specific schooling details.