List of Famous people born in Nanyang, People's Republic of China

Shi Zhengli is a Chinese virologist who researches SARS-like coronaviruses of bat origin. Shi directs the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). In 2017, Shi and her colleague Cui Jie discovered that the SARS coronavirus likely originated in a population of cave-dwelling horseshoe bats in Xiyang Yi Ethnic Township, Yunnan. She came to prominence in the popular press as "Batwoman" during the COVID-19 pandemic for her work with bat coronaviruses. Shi was included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2020.

Dong Dong is a Chinese trampoline gymnast. He is an Olympic champion and three-time medalist: gold at London 2012, bronze at Beijing 2008, and silver at Rio 2016. Between 2007 and 2014, he made the podium at every World Championships and Olympics.

Yue Wenhai is a former Chinese official, he served as Mayor of Zhoukou from May 2012 to May 2013. He is now the Communist Party Secretary of China Minzu Securities.

Xu Yongyue is a Chinese Communist Party senior official, who served as Minister of State Security from March 1998 to August 2007. Prior to that, he was private secretary to Party Elder Chen Yun from 1983 to Chen's death in 1994.

Peng Xuefeng was a New Fourth Army general officer during the Second Sino-Japanese War.