Qin Shi Huang, who have the brutel insight to conquest, unified and standardized the language, commerce, banking.. etc to form the foundation of China.

By the forceful killing off and killing other ethic race who post a challenge to the unity of China, he should be given the first and most important place of Chinese history.

Then there are hundreds and thousands of other important Chinese historical figures worthly of discussion, but there are some many that you can argue who is more important or properly to be listed on this 10 ranking list... you will be argue over entire life time.

But, the second most important figure of Chinese history, is Mao Zedong.  Not the later old Mao Zedong who wonton creating the Great Leap Forward or the Great Cultural Revolution.  The later life of Mao is rather a shameful affair, Mao should have died right after he formed the modern day China; after he declared China stand up in Heavenly Gate, he should have suffered a massive heart attack and died. 

I am talking about the brillant young Mao, who have struggle to the top of the CCP during the Epic Long March; who leading the rag tag army eventually defeated the KMT and drive the KMT to Taiwan.

Both Qin Shi Huang and Mao Zedong are greatest man of action, they get things done.