<p>This study investigates how Chinese popular song lyrics from 1992 to 2022 (n = 308) construct gender identities and power dynamics, and how these representations intersect with global cultural flows, Chinese lyrical traditions, and domestic political currents. Using qualitative content analysis and Kam Louie’s Wen–Wu framework, the research categorizes masculinities, femininities, and gender relationships into stereotypical and non-stereotypical forms. The findings reveal a “V-shaped” trajectory: stereotypical portrayals declined in the 1990s but resurged after the 2000s, reflecting the shift from elite-centered to grassroots music accessibility and the increasing influence of political filtering. While moments of female agency and alternative masculinities emerge, traditional patriarchal orders remain dominant, often reinforced by euphemistic lyrical styles and governance. By situating Chinese pop lyrics in both local traditions and global cultural exchanges, this study contributes to understanding how culture, politics, and media co-produce gender discourses in the Global South.</p>