See main article: article and 2016 China Open (tennis).
Agnieszka Radwańska defeated Johanna Konta in the final, 6–4, 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2016 China Open.
Garbiñe Muguruza was the defending champion, but lost in the third round to Petra Kvitová.
The four Wuhan semifinalists received a bye into the second round. They were as follows:
