Hong Meiling is a youkai, though it isn't currently known which specific category she actually belongs to. She guards the entrance to the Scarlet Devil Mansion along with her henchmen. She is known for her mastery of the martial arts, part of which can be seen from her movement which is performed with Shin-Kyaku.
During the events of Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, she bravely fought against the intruding heroines but ultimately failed to complete her job.
In Touhou Hisoutensoku she saw a roaming giant that she was certain was an incarnation of a God of Calamity, "Taisui Xingjun". However those she warned didn't realize the seriousness of the dangerous situation they were facing. Thus it was up to Meiling alone to defend the Scarlet Devil Mansion and all of Gensokyo from this destructive deity.