the Four Classic Novels of Chinese literature, namely: A Dream of Red Mansions [[紅樓夢|红楼梦<HónglóuMèng>]], Romance of Three Kingdoms [[三國演義|三国演义<SānguóYǎnyì>]], Water Margin [[水滸傳|水浒传<ShuǐhǔZhuàn>]], Journey to the West [[西遊記|西游记<XīyóuJì>]]

the four heavenly kings (Sanskrit vajra)

the four great Chinese inventions: paper, printing, magnetic compass and gunpowder

lit. the four elements are vanity (idiom)

four great basin depressions of China, namely: Tarim [[塔里木盆地]] in south Xinjiang, Jungar [[準葛爾盆地|准葛尔盆地]] and Tsaidam or Qaidam [[柴達木盆地|柴达木盆地]] in north Xinjiang Sichuan [[四川盆地]]

Four great caves, namely: Longmen grottoes [[龍門石窟|龙门石窟<Lóngménshíkū>]] at Luoyang, Henan, Yungang caves [[雲岡石窟|云冈石窟<Yúngāngshíkū>]] at Datong, Shanxi, Mogao caves [[莫高窟<Mògāokū>]] at Dunhuang, Gansu, and Mt Maiji caves [[麥積山石窟|麦积山石窟<Màijīshānshíkū>]] at Tianshui, Gansu

Four legendary beauties of ancient China, namely: Xishi [[西施<Xīshī>]], Wang Zhaojun [[王昭君<WángZhāojūn>]], Diaochan [[貂蟬|貂蝉<DiāoChán>]] and Yang Yuhuan [[楊玉環|杨玉环<YángYùhuán>]]

Four great beards of Beijing opera, namely: Ma Lianliang [[馬連良|马连良]], Tan Fuying [[譚富英|谭富英]], Yang Baosen [[楊寶森|杨宝森]], Xi Xiaobo [[奚嘯伯|奚啸伯]]

Four great compilations of Northern Song dynasty, namely: Extensive records of the Taiping era (978) [[太平廣記|太平广记]], Imperial readings of the Taiping era [[太平御覽|太平御览]], Prime tortoise of the record bureau [[冊府元龜|册府元龟]], Finest blossoms in the garden of literature [[文苑英華|文苑英华]]

Four great Yuan dramatists, namely: Guan Hanqing [[關漢卿|关汉卿<GuānHànqīng>]], Zheng Guangzu [[鄭光祖|郑光祖<ZhèngGuāngzǔ>]], Ma Zhiyuan [[馬致遠|马致远<MǎZhìyuǎn>]] and Bai Pu [[白樸|白朴<BáiPǔ>]]

Four Great Painters of the Six dynasties, namely: Cao Buxing [[曹不興|曹不兴]], Gu Kaizhi [[顧愷之|顾恺之]], Lu Tanwei [[陸探微|陆探微]] and Zhang Sengyou [[張僧繇|张僧繇]]

Four Great Poets of early Tang

Four great Yuan dramatists, namely: Guan Hanqing [[關漢卿|关汉卿<GuānHànqīng>]], Zheng Guangzu [[鄭光祖|郑光祖<ZhèngGuāngzǔ>]], Ma Zhiyuan [[馬致遠|马致远<MǎZhìyuǎn>]] and Bai Pu [[白樸|白朴<BáiPǔ>]]

Four great compilations of Northern Song dynasty, namely: Extensive records of the Taiping era (978) [[太平廣記|太平广记]], Imperial readings of the Taiping era [[太平御覽|太平御览]], Prime tortoise of the record bureau [[冊府元龜|册府元龟]], Finest blossoms in the garden of literature [[文苑英華|文苑英华]]

Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism, namely: Mt Wutai [[五臺山|五台山]] in Shanxi, Mt Emei [[峨眉山]] in Sichuan, Mt Jiuhua [[九華山|九华山]] in Anhui, Mt Potala [[普陀山]] in Zhejiang

Four great southern talents of the Ming, namely: Tang Bohu [[唐伯虎]], Zhu Zhishan [[祝枝山]], Wen Zhengming [[文徵明|文征明]] and Xu Zhenqing [[徐禎卿|徐祯卿]]