World History Timeline

Countries / East Asia

History of China

105 notable historical events in China, in chronological order.

War · 54Politics · 36Dynasty · 18Treaty · 5Revolution · 7Science · 4Technology · 9Exploration · 4Religion · 6Culture · 9Art · 3Economy · 6Disaster · 2Birth · 2Death · 4

16th century BCE

  1. c. 16th century BCE – c. 11th century BCE★★★★★

    Shang dynasty rules the Yellow River valley

    The Shang is the earliest Chinese dynasty confirmed by archaeology, leaving oracle-bone script and sophisticated bronzes.

    DynastyCulture· China

11th century BCE

  1. c. 1046 BCE★★★★★

    Battle of Muye: Zhou overthrows Shang

    King Wu of Zhou defeats the last Shang king, founding the Zhou, the longest-lasting dynasty in Chinese history.

    WarDynasty· China

8th century BCE

6th century BCE

  1. 551 BCE★★★★★

    Birth of Confucius

    Confucius, founder of Confucianism, is born in the state of Lu; his teachings shape East Asian culture for over two millennia.

    BirthReligionCulture· China

5th century BCE

  1. c. 475 BCE – 221 BCE★★★★★

    Warring States period

    Seven major states vie for supremacy for over two centuries, an era that also sees the flourishing of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

    WarPolitics· China

3rd century BCE

  1. 221 BCE★★★★★

    Qin unifies China

    The state of Qin conquers its rivals, ending the Warring States period; Ying Zheng proclaims himself the First Emperor.

    DynastyPoliticsWar· China
  2. c. 215 BCE★★★★★

    Qin links walls into the Great Wall

    Under Qin Shi Huang, general Meng Tian connects and extends northern walls as a defence against the Xiongnu.

    WarTechnology· China
  3. 210 BCE★★★★★

    Death of Qin Shi Huang

    The first emperor of unified China dies while on tour; the Qin dynasty collapses within a few years.

    DeathPolitics· China
  4. 202 BCE★★★★★

    Liu Bang founds the Han dynasty

    After defeating Xiang Yu, Liu Bang becomes Emperor Gaozu of Han, opening a dynasty that lasts over four centuries.

    DynastyPolitics· China

2nd century BCE

  1. c. 179 BCE★★★★★

    Nanyue conquers Âu Lạc

    Zhao Tuo, king of Nanyue, conquers Âu Lạc and incorporates it into Nanyue; traditionally dated to 179 BCE.

    WarPolitics· Vietnam, China

1st century

2nd century

  1. 105★★★★★

    Cai Lun improves papermaking

    The Han court official Cai Lun presents a papermaking process using bark, rags and fishing nets.

    Technology· China
  3. 184★★★★★

    Yellow Turban Rebellion

    A peasant uprising led by Zhang Jiao shakes the Eastern Han and paves the way for an era of rival warlords.

    WarReligion· China

3rd century

  1. 208★★★★★

    Battle of Red Cliffs

    Allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeat Cao Cao's army on the Yangtze, preventing him from conquering the south.

    War· China
  2. 220 – 280★★★★★

    Three Kingdoms period

    After the fall of the Han, China splits into the states of Wei, Shu and Wu until reunification under the Jin in 280.

    WarDynasty· China

6th century

  1. 589★★★★★

    Sui dynasty reunifies China

    Emperor Wen of Sui conquers the southern Chen dynasty, ending nearly three centuries of division.

    WarDynasty· China

7th century

  1. 605 – c. 610★★★★★

    Sui builds the Grand Canal

    Emperor Yang of Sui links and extends canals into the Grand Canal, joining the Yellow River and Yangtze basins.

    TechnologyEconomy· China
  2. 618★★★★★

    Li Yuan founds the Tang dynasty

    Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu) takes the throne at Chang'an, opening one of the most prosperous dynasties in Chinese history.

    DynastyPolitics· China
  3. 626★★★★★

    Xuanwu Gate incident

    Li Shimin kills two rival brothers and soon takes the throne as Emperor Taizong, whose reign is remembered as a golden age.

    Politics· China
  4. 629 – 645★★★★★

    Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India

    The monk Xuanzang travels to India and brings back hundreds of Buddhist texts, which he translates into Chinese.

    ReligionExploration· China, India
  5. 690 – 705★★★★★

    Wu Zetian proclaims herself emperor

    Wu Zetian founds her own Zhou dynasty, becoming the only officially recognised female emperor in Chinese history.

    Politics· China

8th century

  1. 701★★★★★

    Birth of Li Bai

    Li Bai, the 'Immortal Poet' and one of the greatest poets of the Tang dynasty, is born.

    BirthArtCulture· China
  2. 722★★★★★

    Mai Thúc Loan's uprising

    Mai Thúc Loan rebels against Tang rule in Hoan Châu and proclaims himself emperor before the revolt is suppressed.

    War· Vietnam, China
  3. 755 – 763★★★★★

    An Lushan Rebellion

    The revolt of An Lushan and Shi Siming causes massive loss of life and permanently weakens the Tang dynasty.

    War· China

9th century

  1. 868★★★★★

    The Diamond Sutra is printed

    A copy of the Diamond Sutra found at Dunhuang is the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world.

    TechnologyReligionCulture· China

10th century

  1. 907 – 979★★★★★

    Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

    The Tang falls in 907 and China fragments into short-lived northern dynasties and numerous southern kingdoms.

    DynastyPolitics· China
  2. 938★★★★★

    Battle of Bạch Đằng (938)

    Ngô Quyền defeats the Southern Han fleet on the Bạch Đằng River using hidden stakes, ending a millennium of Chinese rule.

    War· Vietnam, China
  3. 960★★★★★

    Zhao Kuangyin founds the Song dynasty

    After the Chenqiao mutiny, Zhao Kuangyin becomes Emperor Taizu; the Song era sees remarkable economic and technological growth.

    DynastyPolitics· China
  4. 981★★★★★

    Lê Hoàn repels the Song invasion

    Forces of Đại Cồ Việt under Lê Hoàn defeat a Song dynasty invasion, including an engagement on the Bạch Đằng River.

    War· Vietnam, China

11th century

  1. c. 1040★★★★★

    Bi Sheng invents movable type

    The artisan Bi Sheng creates movable type from fired clay, the earliest known movable-type printing.

    Technology· China
  4. 1077★★★★★

    Battle of Như Nguyệt River

    Lý Thường Kiệt halts the Song invasion at the Như Nguyệt (Cầu) River; tradition links the poem "Nam quốc sơn hà" to the battle.

    War· Vietnam, China

12th century

  1. 1127★★★★★

    Jingkang incident

    Jurchen Jin forces sack Kaifeng and capture two Song emperors, ending the Northern Song; the court re-forms in the south.

    WarDynasty· China

13th century

  1. 1227★★★★★

    Death of Genghis Khan

    The founder of the Mongol Empire dies during the campaign against Western Xia; his heirs continue its expansion.

    DeathPolitics· Mongolia, China
  2. 1234★★★★★

    Mongols destroy the Jin dynasty

    Mongol and Southern Song forces take Caizhou, ending the Jurchen Jin dynasty in northern China.

    WarDynasty· China
  3. 1258★★★★★

    First Mongol invasion of Đại Việt

    Mongol forces under Uriyangqadai occupy Thăng Long but withdraw after the Battle of Đông Bộ Đầu.

    War· Vietnam, China, Mongolia
  4. 1271★★★★★

    Kublai Khan proclaims the Yuan dynasty

    Kublai Khan adopts the dynastic name Great Yuan with its capital at Dadu (Beijing), establishing Mongol rule over China.

    DynastyPolitics· China, Mongolia
  5. 1271 – 1295★★★★★

    Travels of Marco Polo

    The Venetian merchant Marco Polo travels to China under Kublai Khan; the account of his journey shapes European knowledge of Asia.

    Exploration· Italy, China
  6. 1274 – 1281★★★★★

    Mongol invasions of Japan

    The Yuan twice sends fleets against Japan, in 1274 and 1281, and both fail; the storms involved become known as kamikaze ('divine winds').

    War· Japan, China, South Korea
  9. 1288★★★★★

    Battle of Bạch Đằng (1288)

    Trần Hưng Đạo destroys the Yuan fleet on the Bạch Đằng River, ending the third Mongol invasion of Đại Việt.

    War· Vietnam, China, Mongolia

14th century

  1. 1368★★★★★

    Zhu Yuanzhang founds the Ming dynasty

    Rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang becomes the Hongwu Emperor and drives the Mongols from Dadu, ending the Yuan dynasty.

    DynastyPolitics· China

15th century

  1. 1405 – 1433★★★★★

    Voyages of Zheng He

    Admiral Zheng He leads seven Ming treasure voyages to Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, Arabia and East Africa.

    Exploration· China
  2. 1406 – 1407★★★★★

    Ming conquest of Đại Ngu

    Ming forces defeat the Hồ dynasty (1406–1407) and annex the country as the province of Jiaozhi.

    War· Vietnam, China
  3. 1418 – 1427★★★★★

    Lam Sơn uprising

    Lê Lợi launches a revolt at Lam Sơn (Thanh Hóa) against Ming rule; the ten-year struggle restores independence.

    WarRevolution· Vietnam, China
  4. 1420★★★★★

    Forbidden City completed

    The Yongle Emperor completes the Forbidden City palace complex and moves the capital from Nanjing to Beijing.

    ArtPolitics· China
  6. 1427★★★★★

    Battle of Chi Lăng – Xương Giang

    Lam Sơn forces destroy the Ming relief army, killing its commander Liu Sheng and forcing the Ming to withdraw.

    War· Vietnam, China
  7. 1428★★★★★

    Lê Lợi defeats the Ming; Bình Ngô đại cáo

    The Lam Sơn uprising triumphs over the Ming; Lê Lợi founds the Later Lê dynasty and Nguyễn Trãi writes the proclamation "Bình Ngô đại cáo".

    WarDynastyCulture· Vietnam, China
  8. 1449★★★★★

    Tumu Crisis

    The Ming army is defeated by the Oirat Mongols and the Zhengtong Emperor is taken captive.

    War· China

16th century

  1. 1592 – 1598★★★★★

    Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War)

    Toyotomi Hideyoshi twice invades Korea; Joseon and Ming forces, with Admiral Yi Sun-sin's navy, eventually repel the Japanese.

    War· South Korea, Japan, China

17th century

  1. 1601★★★★★

    Matteo Ricci arrives in Beijing

    Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci is permitted to reside in Beijing, becoming a bridge of science and culture between Europe and China.

    ReligionScience· China, Italy
  2. April 1644★★★★★

    Fall of the Ming; Qing enters Beijing

    Li Zicheng's rebels take Beijing and the Chongzhen Emperor dies by suicide; weeks later Qing forces enter the city and begin their rule of China.

    WarDynasty· China
  3. 1683★★★★★

    Qing annexes Taiwan

    After the Battle of Penghu, the Kingdom of Tungning surrenders and Taiwan is incorporated into the Qing empire.

    WarPolitics· Taiwan, China
  4. 1689★★★★★

    Treaty of Nerchinsk

    The first treaty between Qing China and Tsarist Russia sets their border along the Amur River region.

    Treaty· China, Russia

18th century

  2. 1793★★★★★

    Macartney Embassy to China

    A British embassy led by Lord Macartney meets the Qianlong Emperor but fails to secure expanded trade.

    PoliticsEconomy· China, United Kingdom

19th century

  1. 1839 – 1842★★★★★

    First Opium War

    Britain wars with Qing China after it cracks down on the opium trade; the defeat opens what China calls the 'century of humiliation'.

    WarEconomy· China, United Kingdom
  2. August 29, 1842★★★★★

    Treaty of Nanking

    The Qing cede Hong Kong Island to Britain and open five treaty ports, the first of China's unequal treaties.

    Treaty· China, United Kingdom, Hong Kong
  3. 1850 – 1864★★★★★

    Taiping Rebellion

    Hong Xiuquan's movement founds the 'Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'; the ensuing civil war causes tens of millions of deaths.

    WarReligionRevolution· China
  4. 1856 – 1860★★★★★

    Second Opium War

    Britain and France fight Qing China, occupy Beijing and burn the Old Summer Palace in 1860, forcing further unequal treaties.

    War· China, United Kingdom, France
  5. 1894 – 1895★★★★★

    First Sino-Japanese War

    Japan defeats Qing China in a war over influence in Korea, establishing itself as a rising Asian power.

    War· China, Japan, South Korea
  6. April 17, 1895★★★★★

    Treaty of Shimonoseki

    The Qing cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan and recognise Korean independence.

    Treaty· China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea
  7. 1898★★★★★

    Hundred Days' Reform

    The Guangxu Emperor and Kang Youwei launch sweeping reforms, which Empress Dowager Cixi halts after about 100 days.

    Politics· China
  8. 1899 – 1901★★★★★

    Boxer Rebellion

    The anti-foreign Boxer movement besieges Beijing's legation quarter; an Eight-Nation Alliance intervenes and occupies Beijing in 1900.

    WarRevolution· China

20th century

  1. February 8, 1904 – September 5, 1905★★★★★

    Russo-Japanese War

    Japan defeats the Russian Empire in a war over Manchuria and Korea, the first modern victory of an Asian power over a European one.

    War· Japan, Russia, China, South Korea
  2. October 10, 1911★★★★★

    Wuchang Uprising

    A mutiny in Wuchang triggers the Xinhai Revolution, which spreads across the provinces and brings down the Qing dynasty.

    Revolution· China
  3. January 1, 1912★★★★★

    Republic of China founded

    Sun Yat-sen is inaugurated as provisional president in Nanjing, founding Asia's first republic.

    PoliticsRevolution· China, Taiwan
  4. February 12, 1912★★★★★

    Abdication of Puyi

    The last Qing emperor abdicates, ending more than two thousand years of imperial rule in China.

    PoliticsDynasty· China
  5. May 4, 1919★★★★★

    May Fourth Movement

    Beijing students protest the Paris Peace Conference's Shandong decision, sparking a wave of nationalism and cultural renewal.

    PoliticsCulture· China
  6. July 1921★★★★★

    Chinese Communist Party founded

    The First National Congress meets in Shanghai, formally founding the Chinese Communist Party.

    Politics· China
  7. March 12, 1925★★★★★

    Death of Sun Yat-sen

    The revolutionary revered as the 'Father of the Nation' of the Republic of China dies in Beijing.

    Death· China, Taiwan
  8. 1926 – 1928★★★★★

    Northern Expedition

    The National Revolutionary Army under Chiang Kai-shek marches north, defeats the warlords and nominally reunifies China.

    War· China
  9. September 18, 1931★★★★★

    Mukden Incident

    Japan's Kwantung Army stages a railway explosion near Mukden as a pretext for invading Manchuria.

    War· China, Japan
  10. 1934 – 1935★★★★★

    Long March

    The Chinese Red Army retreats thousands of kilometres from Nationalist forces; Mao Zedong emerges as leader during the march.

    WarPolitics· China
  11. July 7, 1937★★★★★

    Marco Polo Bridge Incident

    A clash between Japanese and Chinese troops near Beijing begins the full-scale Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).

    War· China, Japan
  12. December 13, 1937 – 1938★★★★★

    Nanjing Massacre

    After capturing Nanjing, the Imperial Japanese Army kills large numbers of Chinese prisoners and civilians over several weeks.

    War· China, Japan
  13. May 1939 – September 1939★★★★★

    Battles of Khalkhin Gol

    Soviet and Mongolian forces under Georgy Zhukov defeat the Japanese on the Mongolian–Manchurian border.

    War· Mongolia, Japan, Russia, China
  14. September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945★★★★★

    World War II

    Germany invades Poland, starting the deadliest conflict in human history, which ends with Japan's formal surrender on 2 September 1945.

    War· Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, France, Russia, United States, Japan, China
  16. December 1949★★★★★

    ROC government retreats to Taiwan

    Defeated in the Chinese Civil War, Chiang Kai-shek's government withdraws to Taiwan and makes Taipei its provisional capital.

    WarPolitics· Taiwan, China
  17. June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953★★★★★

    Korean War

    North Korean forces cross the 38th parallel; the war, drawing in US-led UN forces and China, ends in an armistice in 1953.

    War· South Korea, North Korea, China, United States
  18. 1958 – 1962★★★★★

    Great Leap Forward

    A campaign of rapid industrialisation and collectivisation leads to a great famine that kills tens of millions.

    EconomyPoliticsDisaster· China
  19. October 20, 1962 – November 21, 1962★★★★★

    Sino-Indian War

    China and India fight a Himalayan border war over Aksai Chin and present-day Arunachal Pradesh, ending in a unilateral Chinese ceasefire.

    War· India, China
  20. October 16, 1964★★★★★

    China's first nuclear test

    China detonates its first atomic bomb at Lop Nur, becoming the world's fifth nuclear power.

    TechnologyWar· China
  21. 1966 – 1976★★★★★

    Cultural Revolution

    Mao Zedong launches a decade-long political movement that brings social upheaval, persecution and the destruction of cultural heritage.

    PoliticsRevolutionCulture· China
  22. February 21, 1972 – February 28, 1972★★★★★

    Nixon visits China

    U.S. President Richard Nixon's visit opens the way to normalised relations between the United States and China.

    Politics· China, United States
  23. 1974★★★★★

    Terracotta Army discovered

    Farmers digging a well near Xi'an uncover thousands of terracotta warriors buried with Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum.

    CultureArt· China
  24. January 19, 1974★★★★★

    Battle of the Paracel Islands

    Chinese naval forces clash with the South Vietnamese navy and take control of all of the Paracel Islands.

    War· Vietnam, China
  25. September 9, 1976★★★★★

    Death of Mao Zedong

    Chairman Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China, dies in Beijing; the Cultural Revolution ends soon after.

    DeathPolitics· China
  26. December 1978★★★★★

    China launches Reform and Opening

    The Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee, guided by Deng Xiaoping, shifts China's focus to economic development and opening up.

    EconomyPolitics· China
  27. February 17, 1979 – March 16, 1979★★★★★

    Sino-Vietnamese War

    China attacks Vietnam's northern border provinces and withdraws after about a month; both sides claim victory.

    War· Vietnam, China
  28. March 14, 1988★★★★★

    Johnson South Reef skirmish

    Chinese and Vietnamese naval forces clash at Johnson South Reef in the Spratly Islands; about 64 Vietnamese sailors are killed.

    War· Vietnam, China
  29. April 15, 1989 – June 4, 1989★★★★★

    Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown

    Weeks of student-led protests in Beijing end when troops suppress them on the night of 3–4 June.

    Politics· China
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