The annual Influencing China Figures award was launched in 2009 to honor individuals and organizations that have made major contributions to China's social progress.

The awardees came from a wide spectrum of fields. Zhu Min, former Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Chair of the National Institute of Financial Research at Tsinghua University, was honored as scholar of the year. He has promoted reform of the IMF and after retiring from the organization, chose to return to China to teach and advise on the Chinese economy.

Shan Jixiang, Curator of the Palace Museum, was the cultural figure of the year. Since assuming the position, Shan has committed himself to reforms, taking the previously aloof and solemn palace closer to people through TV shows, cultural and creative products, as well as social media platforms. The 64-year-old has become a Web celebrity himself.

Wang Yifang, Director of the Institute of High Energy Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was named scientific figure of the year. His team unveiled its concept design of a giant electron positron collider that could help scientists study the early evolution of the universe and the loss of anti-matter, and search for dark matter. Once the collider is built, it will be the largest in the world.

Carl H. Hahn, former head of the Volkswagen Group, 93, was named the figure that witnessed China's 40 years of reform and opening up, a new prize set up to mark the 40th anniversary of the historic initiative and awarded to four people. Hahn promoted the establishment of Volkswagen's joint ventures in Shanghai and Changchun, which made him an important figure in China's automobile industry.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in China Newsweek on December 24)