Background <p>The nursing profession in China is predominantly female, with male nurses significantly underrepresented. Societal attitudes and stereotypes contribute to this gender disparity. A reliable instrument to measure public attitudes toward male nurses in China is crucial for addressing these issues.</p> Methods <p>This methodological study validated the Chinese version of the Attitude of People Toward Male Nurses Questionnaire (AMnQ) using a cross-sectional design conducted among 480 Chinese adults from both urban and rural areas. To enhance the generalizability of the findings and capture broader societal attitudes, the sample included both healthcare and non-healthcare participants. The original AMnQ was translated into Chinese following standardized forward–backward translation procedures. Psychometric assessment covered internal consistency, split-half reliability, test–retest reliability, expert review, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).</p> Results <p>The Chinese version of the AMnQ demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.823) and reliability (split-half = 0.904; test-retest = 0.747). Content validity was robust, with an S-CVI of 0.981. EFA revealed a three-factor structure, which was further validated by CFA, showing acceptable model fit indices.</p> Conclusion <p>The Chinese AMnQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing public attitudes toward male nurses in China. This instrument can guide interventions aimed at reducing gender bias and fostering diversity within the nursing profession.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p>