Ai Qing (Chinese:艾青) (March 27, 1910 – May 5, 1996) is well-known as one of the most accomplished modern Chinese poets. He wrote under several pen names: Línbì (林壁), Kè'ā (克阿) and Éjiā (莪伽).

After studying in Paris from 1929-1932, where he became influenced by Belgian poet Verhaeran, he returned to Shanghai and was imprisoned for opposing the Kuomintang party. During his incarceration he translated Verhaeran's poems and wrote his first book titled Da Yan River - My Wet-nurse (大堰河——我的保姆). After his release in 1935, he occupied various posts until he joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1942, becoming a member of cultural committees from 1949 onwards.However in 1958 he was accused of 'rightism' and was exiled to rural cummunes in Northeast China and then Xinjiang, and his work was refused publication. When he was reinstated by the Chinese government in 1979 he became vice-chairman of the Chinese Writer's Association.

He is the father of the prominent artist, architect and political activist Ai Weiwei who participated in the design and construction of the Beijing National Stadium.