The subtle and humble first lady who was supportive to the end

Jiang Zemin is survived by his wife of 71 years, Wang Yeping, dubbed the most low-profile first lady.

Wang is Jiang's adoptive cousin - his adoptive mother is Wang's aunt. The couple wed in 1951 and have two sons.

Wang has impressed as being quiet, kind, subtle and humble and has never intervened in political affairs.

Although Wang did not present a glamorous image like other first ladies and looked weak and shy, she was able to leave a strong impression with people.

Wang is two years younger than her husband and she is also from Yangzhou, Jiangsu. She studied foreign languages in Shanghai Foreign Language Institute. Although Wang had received higher education, she was viewed as being a traditional Chinese woman and kept a low profile.

One year after Jiang and Wang got married, their eldest son Mianheng was born in 1952, followed by the birth of second son Miankang in 1954.

Mianheng was sent to work on a farm at the age of 14 after graduating from junior secondary school, while Miankang was enlisted as a soldier at 15.

The brothers only returned to school to finish their education after the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976, and both pursued further studies in the United States.

Mianheng eventually obtained a doctorate degree in electrical engineering.

He was the deputy chief director for China's first human spaceflight mission, Shenzhou 5, launched in 2003.

He was a vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of the academy's Shanghai branch.

The veteran scientist, 70, was appointed the first president of Shanghai Tech University in 2014 and is still heading the institution now.

The younger son Miankang, 68, was an official for transport and urban development in Shanghai.

Jiang had two grandchildren - Mianheng's son and Miankang's daughter - and he was close with both of them.

The grandson, 36-year-old Zhicheng, founded Boyu Capital Investment Management with Chinese investors in Hong Kong more than a decade ago.

The private investment fund received support from business magnate Li Ka-shing as it was backed by the Li Ka Shing Foundation.