Shi The Shi are a major faction in the San Francisco area . They are primarily reclusive researchers who prefer to stay out of wasteland politics . Their symbol is a golden dragon , facing right . History . The ancestors of the present - day Shi were the crewmen of a Chinese submarine , the " Shi - huang - ti " , that was beached in San Francisco shortly after the Great War . Despite the extreme levels of radiation persisting in the burning ruins of the city , they managed to establish a foothold in the city ( in the former Chinatown , no less ) . Gradually , the submarine was stripped of its subsystems , as they found a new purpose serving the Shi , as the group of survivors came to call themselves . Eventually , even the Emperor , the submarine ' s mainframe , was moved to the mainland and installed in the newly built Steel Palace , created from metal salvaged from the submarine . By 2242 , the Shi became a major research and development house , one that stayed out of wasteland politics . Their remote location , as well as the presence of various gangs and cultists in the San Francisco area helped them maintain their isolation and independence . Society . Thanks to their isolation and shunning of outsiders , the Shi have managed to retain a certain amount of their ancestors customs , such as clothing , language and demeanor . However , the younger generations seem to rely more on the surviving popular culture interpretations of Chinese culture ( such as kung - fu holovideos ) , rather than actual cultural traditions . At any rate , the Shi are a feudal society , with a strict hierarchical organization . The leader is nominally the Emperor , however , due to the fact that he is a computer , the actual leader is his head advisor ( Ken Lee in 2241 ) . Under his command stands the Shi guard , a highly effective fighting force whose sole purpose is protecting the Shi and San Francisco , and the research and development branches of the organization . Those that are not part of either the guard or the research force remain outside the power structure and are expected to provide for the community ; in return they enjoy the protection of the Shi guard as well as other benefits coming from being a tight knit community . Military . The Shi military is effectively the Shi guard : a small , but effective fighting force equipped with high tech weapons . Their primary mission is the protection of Shi - town and its inhabitants . They are easily recognizable by their loose clothing and look of wary boredom . Relations with the outside . In 2241 , the Shi remain outside the power structure of the wastes , much like the Brotherhood of Steel in the latter half of the 23rd century . They are , however , locked in a power struggle with the Hubologists , an aggressive pre - War cult that seeks to subvert the Shi ' s scientific achievements for their own pointless endeavours . Technological level . The Shi are one of the more advanced factions in the wastes . They have considerable industrial capability , being able to manufacture high tech weapons , both to equip their military force , and for trade . Perhaps their most awe - inspiring feat is the ability to restore pre - War T - 51b power armor to working condition and offer them for sale . The Shi are also very active researchers . They are nearing a breakthrough in the rediscovery of nuclear power and are considering methods of space travel . They have also learned to synthesize a new fuel using plant extracts and sea life . Since integrating pre - existing pipelines to their fuel reservoirs , they can direct fuel to a number of diverse areas , including the PMV Valdez . New weapons research and insights into new polymeric combat armor , with enhanced heat and penetration resistance , look like promising additions to the Shi armament , particularly when viewed in context with their construction capabilities . It is forecast that , with vertibird schematics , a prototype could be manufactured in a year . In an additional year , mass vertibird production would be viable . Despite the wasteland lacking a proper Jet Antidote , the Shi had developed a similar endorphin blocker which is as effective as regular Jet antidote which can be occasionally available for sale . Other , less militaristic , advances include radiation - resistant plant life in the Shi botany department , which is led by Dr . Sheng Ming . Initial experimentation yielded results with unpleasant side effects , so it was posited that research be redirected to more critical areas . After Dr . Long Wang ' s experimentation of injecting himself with a FEV - derived serum to manufacture super soldiers failed , his genetic research department was merged with Dr . Sheng ' s botany department . Due to this merging , research on radiation - resistant plant life was resumed . The research culminated in a radiation consuming vine that scoured the San Francisco area of radiation after the Enclave ' s destruction . Appearances . The Shi only appear in " Fallout 2 " and are mentioned in " Fallout 4 " . Xian , one of scientists in Boulder , grew up in San Francisco among the Shi . Behind the scenes . The Mandarin name of the Shi ' s submarine , 始皇帝 ( " Shǐ Huángdì " ) , means " the First Emperor " . This title was adopted by the founder of the short - lived Qin dynasty ( 221 - 206 BCE ) , who united China , ending the Warring States period . The English name " China " originates from the name of the Qin state .