Photo Gallery Yao Ming's World
Yao Ming was an NBA star for the Houston Rockets and his popularity back home in China is vast. Since retiring from professional basketball, he has moved back to Shanghai.
Yao is the best known basketball player ever to come out of China and a hero in his country. In an interview, he tells SPIEGEL that he doesn't see himself as an ambassador for his country.
In 2008, Yao was the torch bearer for the Chinese Olympic team in Beijing. Here, he carries the torch through the Tiananmen Gate. He dreams of China winning the Olympic gold medal in basketball one day.
Yao is not only involved in sports these days. He is also part of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He told SPIEGEL that he believes his experience with private charities can be useful.
Yao Ming is heavily involved with WildAid, a group that is, among other things, trying to get shark fin soup off of Chinese menus. Here, Yao is in Kenya touring the Nairobi National Park in 2012.
Yao say that he became involved in WildAid partially because of Jackie Chan's participation in the group. "Jackie Chan ... was a hero for my generation and myself," he told SPIEGEL.
Yao playing for the Houston Rockets in an exhibition game in China in 2010. He says that fears of China becoming dominating in international sports are exaggerated.
Yao Ming with his wife Ye Li, who is also a basketball player, and his daughter. Yao was tapped early in his life as a potential basketball star because of his size. He is 2.29 meters (7'6") tall.
Yao leaving a session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in 2012. He is still involved in basketball in China, managing the Shanghai Sharks.
Yao Ming carrying the Chinese flag with a nine-year-old earthquake survivor during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. "We have asked ourselves: Achievement in sports, is it about fun or about gold? I think for most of our major sports, you cannot have gold before you have the fun," Yao says.
