Chen Yun's position as one of the top Chinese leaders span almost to its entirety. He is one of the Big Five in Communist China along with Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, and Zhu De. A Politburo Standing Committee member for decades, he was one of the Vice-Chairs to the Central Committee until this position was abolished,and from 1987 to 1992 headed the party's Central Advisory Committee, until it was abolished..
He was considered to be one of the Eight Immortals of Communist China.