I guess that would depend on who you ask, or what you read. I just finished the latest book by Henry Kissinger, called "On China." He, of course, was instrumental in paving the way for a relationship between the United States and China under Richard Nixon, and has met with every Chinese leader since Mao.

A central figure in modern Chinese history, Zhou, like so many of his contemporaries, suffered a purging under the dictates of the Cultural Revolution and at the hands of the "Gang of Four (late 1973)." From Kissinger's account, Zhou was intelligent and pragmatic. A phrase he liked to use was, "The helmsman must ride the waves of history." While Mao fancied himself as a philosopher, Zhou considered himself an administrator, and did much in his role to moderate the excesses of Mao's "eternal revolution" in regards to Chinese society.

Deng Xiao Ping said: "Without the premier (Zhou), the Cultural Revolution would have been much worse. And without the premier, the Cultural Revolution wouldn't have dragged on for such a long time." One reason for this is because it was Zhou's responsibility to make sure that Mao's policies were carried out. But he seems to have taken the edge off of most of their full negative impact.

Kissinger goes on to remark that Zhou had a subtle and sensitive style, but was also very direct in talk and negotiation, taking a practical view of international relationships within the framework that had been mandated by Mao's policies.

What seems to surface was that he was a man of conviction, who believed that the revolution and all that it entailed was good for the country. His methodology seemed to lean more towards gradual change, rather than the rapid upheaval which Mao favored to speed in true Communism. Like any man, he had his flaws, and he and his family suffered much under the extremes and excesses of ideology. That being said, he was a survivor, and seemed to be well liked by the general population at the time he was Premier.

Hoped this helped a little. I would highly recommend this book, both because it is a personal recount of the modern history of China, but also because it chronicles world events at that era, going into American and Soviet relationships and how China completed the triangle and rose to it's current position in international affairs.

in china, Premier Zhou is tread as a cultural sign——the man who devote himself for his motherland and people. for some chinese, chairman Mao like hard father, some time he was a grim man. but premier Zhou more like gentle mother always try to protect childrens when father got angered.

i don't want say how he is, because different people have different opinions,especially for someone thought admire he just another personality cult.  but  most chinese  thought  he  represent the spirit of china ,and people  still fill with highly respect when they talk about him.  

I think & from what I've read he was real statesman, not just a politician.

As an indictment to his respect, after his death the ruling govt were not to give him a state funeral service (for some stupid/inane Chinese reason) the populace protested very strongly & got their wish! He was granted full, state funeral rights

.The people loved him with good reason.

I truly think he was a good statesman.

China sorely needs more of his type today....