See main article: 2005 China Open (tennis).
Serena Williams was the defending champion, but lost in the second round to Sun Tiantian. Tiantian became the first ever player ranked outside the top 100 to defeat Williams in a main draw match.
Maria Kirilenko won the title by defeating Anna-Lena Grönefeld 6–3, 6–4 in the final.
The top four seeds receive a bye into the second round.