6-K

Commission File Number 001-31914

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

April 25, 2013

China Life Insurance Company Limited

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

16 Financial Street

Xicheng District

Beijing 100033, China

Tel: (86-10) 6363-3333

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F  x            Form 40-F  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Yes  ¨            No  x

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-             

Commission File Number 001-31914

China Life Insurance Company Limited issued its 2013 First Quarter Report on April 25, 2013, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit	Description
99.1	2013 First Quarter Report, dated April 25, 2013

Commission File Number 001-31914

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

		China Life Insurance Company Limited
		(Registrant)
	By:	/s/ Wan Feng
		(Signature)
April 25, 2013	Name:	Wan Feng
	Title:	President and Executive Director

EX-99.1

Commission File Number 001-31914

Exhibit 99.1.

CHINA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED

(A joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 2628)

2013 First Quarter Report

This announcement is made by China Life Insurance Company Limited pursuant to the inside information provisions under Part XIVA of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) and Rules 13.09(2) and 13.10B of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

The financial data of the Company for the first quarter of 2013 have been prepared in accordance with the China Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises and are unaudited. Net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company and equity attributable to equity holders of the Company in the consolidated financial statements are identical to the relevant data under International Financial Reporting Standards.

1. Important Notice

1.1 The Company’s Board of Directors, the Supervisory Committee, its Directors, Supervisors and Senior Management warrant that there are no false representations, misleading statements or material omissions in this report, and jointly and severally accept full responsibility for the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this report.

1.2 Of the eleven Directors of the Company, nine attended the Board Meeting. Chairman and Executive Director Mr. Yang Mingsheng, Executive Directors Mr. Wan Feng, Mr. Lin Dairen, Non-executive Directors Mr. Miao Jianmin, Mr. Zhang Xiangxian and Independent Non- executive Directors Mr. Sun Changji, Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore, Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh and Mr Tang Jianbang attended the meeting. Executive Director Ms. Liu Yingqi and Non-executive Director Mr. Wang Sidong could not attend the meeting due to other business, and gave written authorization to Executive Director Mr. Lin Dairen and Executive Director Mr. Wan Feng to act as proxy to attend and vote at the meeting, respectively.

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Commission File Number 001-31914

1.3 The Company’s 2013 first quarter financial report is unaudited.

1.4 Mr. Yang Mingsheng, Chairman of the Company, Mr. Liu Jiade, Vice President in charge of financial affairs, Mr. Li Mingguang, Chief Actuary and Mr. Yang Zheng, Head of the Financial Department, confirm that the financial reports in this 2013 first quarter report are true and complete.

2. Basic Information of the Company

2.1 Major accounting data and financial indicators

(Currency: RMB)

	As at 31 March 2013		As at 31 December 2012		Increase/(decrease) compared to 31 December 2012
Total assets (million)		1,938,010		1,898,916		2.1	%
Total equity holders’ equity (million)		231,877		221,085		4.9	%
Equity holders’ equity per share (RMB per share)		8.20		7.82		4.9	%
	For the three months ended 31 March 2013				Increase/(decrease) compared to the same period of 2012
Net cash flows from operating activities (million)		18,877				-40.0	%
Net cash flows from operating activities per share (RMB per share)		0.67				-40.0	%
	For the Reporting  Period (from January to March)		For the same period of 2012 (from January to March)		Increase/(decrease) compared to the same period of 2012 (from January to March)
Net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company (million)		10,077		5,625		79.1	%
Basic earnings per share (RMB per share)		0.36		0.20		79.1	%
Basic earnings per share after deducting non-recurring items (RMB per share)		0.36		0.20		79.3	%
Diluted earnings per share (RMB per share)		0.36		0.20		79.1	%
Weighted average ROE (%)		4.45		2.84		An increase of 1.61 percentage points
Weighted average ROE after deducting non-recurring items (%)		4.45		2.84		An increase of 1.61 percentage points

Note: Equity holders’ equity refers to equity attributable to equity holders of the Company, while net profit refers to net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company.

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Commission File Number 001-31914

As at 31 March 2013, investment assets of the Company were RMB1,815,817 million. For the three months ended 31 March 2013, the net investment yield was 4.25% (net investment income including interest income from debt securities and bank deposits, dividends from equity securities, and interest income from policy loans and debt plan investments), the gross investment yield was 5.82% (the gross investment yield ={[(Investment income – share of results of associates + Fair value gains/(losses) – Impairment losses of investment assets – Business tax and surcharges for investment)/((Investment assets at the beginning of the period + Investment assets at the end of the period)/2)]/90}×365), the surrender rate was 1.36%, and premiums earned was RMB110,068 million, a decrease of 2.4%.

Deducting Non-recurring Items and Amount

Non-recurring items	RMB million For the three months ended 31 March 2013
Gains on disposal of non-current assets		5
Government subsidies included in current gains/(losses)		1
Net non-operating income and expenses other than those mentioned above		(14	)
Effect of income tax		2
Attributable to non-controlling interest		—
Total		(6	)

Note: As an insurance company, investment (utilization of insurance funds) is one of the main businesses of the Company. Therefore, the non-recurring items do not include fair value gains/(losses) from held-for-trading financial assets and liabilities, as well as investment income from the disposal of held-for-trading financial assets and liabilities and available-for-sale financial assets.

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Commission File Number 001-31914

2.2 Total number of shareholders and the top ten shareholders not subject to selling restrictions as at the end of the Reporting Period

Unit: Share

The total number of shareholders as at the end of the Reporting Period		Number of A share holders: 223,881
		Number of H share holders: 35,460
Particulars of the top ten shareholders of listed shares not subject to selling restrictions
Name of shareholders (Full name)	Number of listed  shares not subject to selling restrictions held as at the end of the Reporting Period		Type
China Life Insurance (Group) Company		19,323,530,000		A shares
HKSCC Nominees Limited		7,281,384,916		H shares
State Development & Investment Corporation		35,685,900		A shares
National Social Security Fund-Portfolio 103		33,799,460		A shares
China Construction Bank – Bosera Theme Industry Stock Securities Investment Fund		33,730,393		A shares
China Construction Bank – Great Wall Brand Merit-choosed Equity Fund		20,968,306		A shares
New China Life Insurance Company Ltd. – Participating – Participating Products of Group Life Insurance – 018L – FH001 Hu		20,458,146		A shares
China National Nuclear Corporation		20,000,000		A shares
National Social Security Fund-Portfolio 110		18,701,036		A shares
China International Television Corporation		18,452,300		A shares

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Commission File Number 001-31914

3. Significant Events

3.1 Particulars of and reasons for changes in major accounting items and financial indicators of the Company

            ü     Applicable             Not applicable

(1) Changes in key financial indicators and their reasons

RMB million

Key financial indicators	As at 31 March 2013		As at 31 December 2012		Increase/ (decrease)			Main reasons
Total assets		1,938,010		1,898,916		2.1	%	Accumulation of insurance business assets
Total liabilities		1,704,050		1,675,815		1.7	%	Increase in insurance reserves
Total equity holders’ equity		231,877		221,085		4.9	%	The influence of the net profit during the Reporting Period

RMB million

Key financial indicators	For the three months  ended 31 March 2013		For the three months  ended 31 March 2012		Increase/ (decrease)			Main reasons
Operating profit		12,802		6,871		86.3	%	Increase in investment yield and decrease in impairment losses
Net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company		10,077		5,625		79.1	%	Increase in investment yield and decrease in impairment losses

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Commission File Number 001-31914

(2) Material changes in major accounting items and their reasons

RMB million

Key financial indicators	As at 31 March 2013		As at 31 December 2012		Increase/ (decrease)			Main reasons
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		45,000		68,499		-34.3	%	The needs for liquidity management
Claims payable		24,702		16,890		46.3	%	Increase in maturity benefits payable
								RMB million
Key financial indicators	For the three months  ended 31 March 2013		For the three months ended 31 March 2012		Increase/ (decrease)			Main reasons
Investment income		26,094		19,016		37.2	%	The Company adopted a more initiative investment approach in light of market conditions and increased the allocation in fixed-income investment assets
Surrenders		20,088		9,916		102.6	%	Increase in surrenders of some products sold through bancassurance channel resulting from the impact of various wealth management products offered by banks
Claims expense		43,862		31,167		40.7	%	Intensive payment for maturity benefits for some products
Increase in insurance contracts reserve		39,763		60,489		-34.3	%	Release of insurance reserves resulting from the surrender by policyholders and the maturity of insurance products
Policyholder dividends		6,368		1,433		344.4	%	Increase in investment yields for participating products
Impairment losses		847		7,686		-89.0	%	Decrease in equity securities which meet the conditions for recognizing impairment losses resulting from the fluctuation in the capital markets

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Commission File Number 001-31914

3.2 Explanation and analysis of significant events and their impacts and solutions

Applicable                 ü    Not applicable

3.3 Implementation of undertakings by the Company, its shareholders and de facto controller

ü    Applicable                 Not applicable

Prior to the listing of the Company’s A Shares (30 November 2006), land use rights were injected by China Life Insurance (Group) Company (the “CLIC”) into the Company during its reorganization. Out of these, four pieces of land (with a total area of 10,421.12 square meters) had not had its formalities in relation to the change of ownership completed. Further, out of the properties injected into the Company, there were six properties (with a gross floor area of 8,639.76 square meters) in respect of which the formalities in relation to the change of ownership had not been completed. CLIC undertook to complete the above-mentioned formalities within 1 year of the date of listing of the Company’s A Shares, and in the event such formalities could not be completed within such period, CLIC would bear any potential losses to the Company in relation thereto.

CLIC strictly followed these commitments. As at the end of the Reporting Period, save for the two properties and related land of the Company’s Shenzhen Branch, the ownership registration formalities of which had not been completed due to historical reasons, all other formalities in relation to the change of land and property ownership had been completed The Shenzhen Branch of the Company continues to use such properties and land, and no other parties have questioned or hindered the use of such properties and land by the Company.

At present, the Company’s Shenzhen Branch and the co-owner and the original owner of the properties have reached an agreement that the ownership of the properties of each party will be determined by legal proceeding and the parties intend to bring the legal proceedings in the near future. CLIC will bear the costs incurred in accordance with its undertakings.

3.4 Warnings and explanation for any forecasted losses or significant changes (as compared to the same period of last year) in accumulated net profit from the beginning of the year to the end of the next reporting period

Applicable                 ü    Not applicable

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Commission File Number 001-31914

3.5 The implementation of cash dividend policy during the Reporting Period

Applicable                 ü     Not applicable

This announcement is published in both Chinese and English languages. The Chinese version announcement shall prevail.

By Order of the Board of

China Life Insurance Company Limited

Heng Victor Ja Wei

Company Secretary

As at the date of this announcement, the Board of Directors of the Company comprises:

Executive Directors:	Mr. Yang Mingsheng, Mr. Wan Feng, Mr Lin Dairen,
	Ms. Liu Yingqi
Non-executive Directors:	Mr. Miao Jianmin, Mr. Zhang Xiangxian, Mr Wang Sidong
Independent non-executive Directors:	Mr. Sun Changji, Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore,
	Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh, Mr Tang Jianbang

Hong Kong,

25 April 2013

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Commission File Number 001-31914

4. Appendix

4.1 Balance sheet as at 31 March 2013 (unaudited)

RMB million (Unless otherwise stated)

	As at		As at		As at		As at
	31 March		31 December		31 March		31 December
	2013		2012		2013		2012
ASSETS	Group		Group		Company		Company
Assets
Cash fund		65,304		69,434		64,711		68,637
Held-for-trading financial assets		41,847		34,018		41,737		33,970
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		9,156		894		9,126		844
Interest receivables		29,061		28,926		28,950		28,837
Premiums receivables		16,424		8,738		16,424		8,738
Receivables from reinsurers		24		35		24		35
Unearned premium reserves receivable from reinsurers		131		101		131		101
Claim reserves receivable from reinsurers		51		54		51		54
Reserves for life insurance receivables from reinsurers		15		13		15		13
Reserves for long-term health insurance receivables from reinsurers		748		745		748		745
Policy loans		41,086		39,893		41,086		39,893
Debt plan investments		43,544		40,526		43,354		40,336
Other receivables		15,328		9,547		15,089		9,379
Term deposits		646,970		641,080		645,670		639,780
Available-for-sale financial assets		489,661		506,416		487,405		504,341
Held-to-maturity investments		472,096		452,389		471,541		451,838
Long-term equity investments		29,773		28,991		33,638		32,856
Statutory deposits		6,153		6,153		5,653		5,653
Constructions in progress		5,189		5,126		5,189		5,126
Fixed assets		16,503		16,865		15,976		16,329
Intangible assets		6,464		6,498		6,407		6,439
Other assets		2,447		2,439		2,435		2,424
Separate account assets		35		35		35		35
Total Assets		1,938,010		1,898,916		1,935,395		1,896,403

Yang Mingsheng	Liu Jiade	Li Mingguang	Yang Zheng
Chairman	Vice President in charge of Accounting Affairs	Chief Actuary	Head of Financial Department

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Commission File Number 001-31914

4.1 Balance sheet as at 31 March 2013 (unaudited) (continued)

RMB million (Unless otherwise stated)

	As at			As at			As at		As at
	31 March			31 December			31 March		31 December
	2013			2012			2013		2012
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	Group			Group			Company		Company
Liabilities
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		45,000			68,499			45,000		68,499
Premiums received in advance		1,707			2,576			1,707		2,576
Brokerage and commission payable		2,245			2,459			2,245		2,459
Reinsurance payable		101			70			101		70
Salary and welfare payable		3,856			4,876			3,506		4,473
Taxes payable		493			425			427		387
Claims payable		24,702			16,890			24,702		16,890
Policyholder dividends payable		47,432			44,240			47,432		44,240
Other payable		2,377			2,713			2,340		2,656
Policyholder deposits		64,802			66,604			64,802		66,604
Unearned premium reserves		7,652			5,955			7,652		5,955
Claim reserves		2,951			3,078			2,951		3,078
Reserves for life insurance		1,398,659			1,359,894			1,398,659		1,359,894
Reserves for long-term health insurance		16,736			15,610			16,736		15,610
Bonds payable		67,982			67,981			67,982		67,981
Deferred tax liabilities		10,140			7,834			10,228		7,922
Other liabilities		7,180			6,076			7,180		6,076
Separate account liabilities		35			35			35		35
Total liabilities		1,704,050			1,675,815			1,703,685		1,675,405
Equity
Share capital		28,265			28,265			28,265		28,265
Capital reserve		59,966			59,251			59,948		59,242
Surplus reserve		37,221			37,221			37,173		37,173
General reserve		15,959			15,959			15,959		15,959
Retained earnings		90,469			80,392			90,365		80,359
Exchange differences from translating foreign currency financial statement		(3	)		(3	)		—		—
Attributable to equity holders of the Company		231,877			221,085			231,710		220,998
Non-controlling interests		2,083			2,016			—		—
Total equity		233,960			223,101			231,710		220,998
Total liabilities and equity		1,938,010			1,898,916			1,935,395		1,896,403

Yang Mingsheng	Liu Jiade	Li Mingguang	Yang Zheng
Chairman	Vice President in charge of Accounting Affairs	Chief Actuary	Head of Financial Department

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Commission File Number 001-31914

4.2 Income statement for the first quarter of 2013 (unaudited)

RMB million (Unless otherwise stated)

		For the three months ended						For the three months ended
		31 March						31 March
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		Group			Group			Company			Company
1.	Operating income		138,250			131,925			138,061			131,784
	Premiums earned		110,068			112,737			110,068			112,737
	Premium income		111,912			113,752			111,912			113,752
	Including: reinsurance premium income		2			—			2			—
	Less: Premiums ceded to reinsurers		(177	)		(100	)		(177	)		(100	)
	Unearned premium reserves		(1,667	)		(915	)		(1,667	)		(915	)
	Investment income		26,094			19,016			26,033			18,959
	Including: share of results of associates		606			539			606			539
	Fair value gains/(losses)		1,295			(433	)		1,291			(430	)
	Foreign exchange gains/(losses)		(37	)		(24	)		(37	)		(24	)
	Other operating income		830			629			706			542
2.	Operating expenses		(125,448	)		(125,054	)		(125,451	)		(125,050	)
	Surrenders		(20,088	)		(9,916	)		(20,088	)		(9,916	)
	Claims expense		(43,862	)		(31,167	)		(43,862	)		(31,167	)
	Less: claims recoverable from reinsurers		45			28			45			28
	Increase in insurance contracts reserve		(39,763	)		(60,489	)		(39,763	)		(60,489	)
	Less: insurance reserves recoverable from reinsurers		2			(7	)		2			(7	)
	Policyholder dividends		(6,368	)		(1,433	)		(6,368	)		(1,433	)
	Business tax and surcharges		(331	)		(339	)		(311	)		(324	)
	Underwriting and policy acquisition costs		(6,954	)		(7,840	)		(6,954	)		(7,840	)
	Administrative expenses		(5,409	)		(4,897	)		(5,233	)		(4,726	)
	Less: expenses recoverable from reinsurers		56			44			56			44
	Other operating expenses		(1,929	)		(1,352	)		(2,128	)		(1,534	)
	Impairment losses		(847	)		(7,686	)		(847	)		(7,686	)
3.	Operating profit		12,802			6,871			12,610			6,734
	Add: Non-operating income		12			15			11			15
	Less: Non-operating expenses		(20	)		(14	)		(20	)		(14	)
4.	Net profit before income tax		12,794			6,872			12,601			6,735
	Less: Income tax expenses		(2,650	)		(1,194	)		(2,595	)		(1,148	)
5.	Net profit		10,144			5,678			10,006			5,587
6.	Attributable to:
	– equity holders of the Company		10,077			5,625
	– non-controlling interests		67			53
7.	Earnings per share
	Basic earnings per share		RMB0.36			RMB0.20
	Diluted earnings per share		RMB0.36			RMB0.20
8.	Other Comprehensive income		715			7,671			706			7,657
9.	Total Comprehensive income		10,859			13,349			10,712			13,244
	Attributable to equity holders of the Company		10,792			13,295
	Attributable to non-controlling interests		67			54

Yang Mingsheng	Liu Jiade	Li Mingguang	Yang Zheng
Chairman	Vice President in charge of Accounting Affairs	Chief Actuary	Head of Financial Department

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4.3 Cash flow statement for the first quarter of 2013 (unaudited)

RMB million (Unless otherwise stated)

		For the three months ended						For the three months ended
		31 March						31 March
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		Group			Group			Company			Company
1.	Cash flows from operating activities
	Premiums received		103,357			105,422			103,357			105,422
	Cash received from other operating activities		704			790			577			494
	Sub-total of cash inflows from operating activities		104,061			106,212			103,934			105,916
	Cash paid for claims		(56,138	)		(36,635	)		(56,138	)		(36,635	)
	Net cash paid for reinsurance business		(34	)		(8	)		(34	)		(8	)
	Net decrease in policyholder deposits		(1,790	)		(3,120	)		(1,790	)		(3,120	)
	Cash paid for brokerage and commission fees		(7,169	)		(7,479	)		(7,169	)		(7,479	)
	Cash paid for policyholder dividends		(2,543	)		(2,751	)		(2,543	)		(2,751	)
	Cash paid to and for employees		(3,345	)		(3,020	)		(3,179	)		(2,891	)
	Net cash paid for held-for-trading financial assets		(6,420	)		(15,676	)		(6,383	)		(15,605	)
	Cash paid for taxes and surcharges		(3,055	)		(2,145	)		(2,989	)		(2,089	)
	Cash paid for other operating activities		(4,690	)		(3,933	)		(4,771	)		(3,965	)
	Sub-total of cash outflows from operating activities		(85,184	)		(74,767	)		(84,996	)		(74,543	)
	Net cash flows from operating activities		18,877			31,445			18,938			31,373

Yang Mingsheng	Liu Jiade	Li Mingguang	Yang Zheng
Chairman	Vice President in charge of Accounting Affairs	Chief Actuary	Head of Financial Department

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4.3 Cash flow statement for the first quarter of 2013 (unaudited) (continued)

RMB million (Unless otherwise stated)

		For the three months ended 31 March						For the three months ended 31 March
		2013 Group			2012 Group			2013 Company			2012 Company
2.	Cash flows from investing activities
	Cash received from sales and redemption of investments		112,704			62,859			112,288			62,311
	Cash received from investment income		18,506			14,958			18,477			14,902
	Net cash received from disposals of fixed assets, intangible assets and other long- term assets		29			3			29			3
	Net cash received from securities purchased under agreements to resell		—			257			—			151
	Sub-total of cash inflows from investing activities		131,239			78,077			130,794			77,367
	Cash paid for investments		(120,686	)		(89,342	)		(120,085	)		(88,824	)
	Net increase in policy loans		(1,194	)		(1,066	)		(1,194	)		(1,066	)
	Cash paid for acquisition of fixed assets, intangible assets and other long-term assets		(497	)		(258	)		(489	)		(258	)
	Net cash paid for securities purchased under agreements to resell		(8,261	)		—			(8,282	)		—
	Sub-total of cash outflows from investing activities		(130,638	)		(90,666	)		(130,050	)		(90,148	)
	Net cash flows from investing activities		601			(12,589	)		744			(12,781	)

Yang Mingsheng	Liu Jiade	Li Mingguang	Yang Zheng
Chairman	Vice President in charge of Accounting Affairs	Chief Actuary	Head of Financial Department

13

Commission File Number 001-31914

4.3 Cash flow statement for the first quarter of 2013 (unaudited) (continued)

RMB million (Unless otherwise stated)

		For the three months ended 31 March						For the three months ended 31 March
		2013 Group			2012 Group			2013 Company			2012 Company
3.	Cash flows from financing activities
	Sub-total of cash inflows from financing activities		—			—			—			—
	Net cash paid for securities sold under agreements to repurchase		(23,607	)		(7,218	)		(23,607	)		(7,218	)
	Sub-total of cash outflows from financing activities		(23,607	)		(7,218	)		(23,607	)		(7,218	)
	Net cash flows from financing activities		(23,607	)		(7,218	)		(23,607	)		(7,218	)
4.	Effect of changes in foreign exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents		(1	)		(16	)		(1	)		(16	)
5.	Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(4,130	)		11,622			(3,926	)		11,358
	Add: Opening balance of cash and cash equivalents		69,452			55,985			68,655			55,585
6.	Closing balance of cash and cash equivalents		65,322			67,607			64,729			66,943

Yang Mingsheng	Liu Jiade	Li Mingguang	Yang Zheng
Chairman	Vice President in charge of Accounting Affairs	Chief Actuary	Head of Financial Department

14