Interact with Chinese history by exploring a timeline of key historical figures, dynasties, events, and artworks. Use the arrows to scroll through the centuries, and click on an era or item to learn more!
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Neolithic period, ca. 7000–1700 BCE
ca. 18,000 BCE
Earliest pottery production
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ca. 18,000 BCE
Earliest pottery production
The earliest known pottery in the world is about twenty thousand years old and was excavated from a site in present-day Jiangxi Province. This means that ceramics predate even the development of agriculture in China.
Late Neolithic period, ca. 3500–ca. 3000 BCE
ca. 2700 BCE
Earliest silk production
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ca. 2700 BCE
Earliest silk production
Silk is made from the fibers of the silkworm cocoon, and domestication of silkworms began in China around 2700 BCE. Silk became one of the most important commodities of the Silk Road, the network of trade routes that emerged in the second century BCE and extended from China to Rome.
ca. 1800 BCE
Earliest bronze production
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ca. 1800 BCE
Earliest bronze production
Chinese civilization made great advances as it emerged from the Neolithic period and entered the Bronze Age. One factor in this change was the ability to locate and extract natural deposits of copper and tin for making bronze. Foundries capable of heating the ores to high enough temperatures for mixing and casting metal were established in northern areas of China around 1800 BCE.
The Neolithic Period, or New Stone Age, is characterized by the beginning of a settled human lifestyle. People learned to cultivate plants and domesticate animals for food, rather than relying solely on hunting and gathering. Pottery and jade carving emerged as important crafts in this period.
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Shang dynasty ca. 1600–1050 BCE
ca. 1400–1000 BCE
Earliest Chinese writing
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ca. 1400–1000 BCE
Earliest Chinese writing
Oracle-bone script, the earliest known form of systematic Chinese writing, dates from the fourteenth to eleventh centuries BCE. The sharp beginning and end of each stroke relate to the script's origins in carving divination texts on tortoiseshells and on the flat bones of certain animals. These ancient texts were used primarily in predicting future events on behalf of the ruler.
Late Shang dynasty, Anyang period, ca. 1250–ca. 1200 BCE
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Late Shang dynasty, Anyang period, ca. 1250–ca. 1200 BCE
Inscribed tortoiseshell (oracle bone)
ca. 1200 BCE
Lady Hao (Fu Hao)
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ca. 1200 BCE
Lady Hao (Fu Hao)
Lady Hao, or Fu Hao, was a royal consort at the Shang court. Hers was the only tomb of that period that remained untouched by looters, its contents to be uncovered by archaeologists in the twentieth century. The wealth of objects excavated from her Yinxu burial site have helped scholars better understand the Shang dynasty, and demonstrate the elite status to which Fu Hao ascended as a woman in Bronze Age China.
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Shang dynasty, ca. 1100–ca. 1050 BCE
Shang dynasty, ca. 1100–1050 BCE
The Shang dynasty is the earliest dynasty in Chinese history that is verified through written and archaeological evidence. It is clear from archaeological findings that the Shang rulers established a stable social order. Like many other societies, they did so through religion and shared ritual practices.
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Zhou Dynasty, ca. 1050–221 BCE
Early Western Zhou dynasty, ca. 1025–ca. 975 BCE
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Early Western Zhou dynasty, ca. 1025–ca. 975 BCE
Square lidded ritual wine container (fangyi)
771–476 BCE
Spring and Autumn Period
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771–476 BCE
Spring and Autumn Period
The Spring and Autumn period is the first of two periods comprising the Eastern Zhou dynasty, the second being the turbulent Warring States period. Named for the classic text The Spring and Autumn Annals, this period was a time of great flourishing for Chinese philosophy. It was the time of both Confucius and Laozi, among other influential thinkers.
ca. 600–500 BCE
Laozi, philosopher
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ca. 600–500 BCE
Laozi, philosopher
Laozi was an extraordinary thinker who flourished during the sixth century BCE. He is considered the founder of Daoism, a complex system of beliefs advocating that all people follow the Dao, or the "Way"—the natural path of the universe. Some modern scholars suggest Laozi may be a legendary, rather than historical, figure.
551–479 BCE
Confucius, philosopher
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551–479 BCE
Confucius, philosopher
Confucius developed a system of thought known as Confucianisum, one of the most important cultural forces in all of Chinese history. Born in the state of Lu during a period of political unrest, he stressed the importance of good government, the correct placement of a person in the family and social structure, and the role of proper rites.
Late Spring and Autumn period, Eastern Zhou dynasty, ca. 500–ca. 450 BCE
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Late Spring and Autumn period, Eastern Zhou dynasty, ca. 500–ca. 450 BCE
Bell (bo) with birds and dragons
ca. 280–233 BCE
Han Fei, philosopher
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ca. 280–233 BCE
Han Fei, philosopher
Han Fei was a philosopher who lived during China's Warring States period. He is the figure most associated with a school of thought called Legalism, which became influential in the later Qin dynasty. Han Fei believed human behavior should be regulated by obedience to strict standards enforced by a system of rewards and punishments.
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259–210 BCE (reigned 221–210 BCE)
Qin Shihuangdi (Emperor Qin Shi Huang)
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259–210 BCE (reigned 221–210 BCE)
Qin Shihuangdi (Emperor Qin Shi Huang)
Qin Shihuangdi unified China and became the first emperor of the Qin dynasty in 221 BCE. As emperor he standardized weights and measures, coinage, and the writing system. Qin Shihuangdi was a severe leader intolerant of any threats to his rule and known for burning books and burying alive hundreds of scholars during his reign. He is also famous for the terracotta warriors buried in his tomb in present-day Xi'an.
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256–195 BCE (reigned 202–195 BCE)
Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu of Han)
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256–195 BCE (reigned 202–195 BCE)
Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu of Han)
Liu Bang was a leader in the rebellion against the Qin dynasty and became the first emperor of the Han dynasty in 202 BCE. He was subsequently known as Emperor Gaozu of Han.
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The Zhou people conquered the Shang around 1050 BCE and established their own dynasty. The Zhou shared many cultural similarities with the Shang. They performed similar religious rituals, used bronze vessels, and practiced divination. The Zhou dynasty is divided into two periods: the Western Zhou (1050–771 BCE) and the Eastern Zhou (771–221 BCE).
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Qin dynasty, 221–206 BCE
ca. 221 BCE
Construction begins on the Great Wall of China
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ca. 221 BCE
Construction begins on the Great Wall of China
During the Qin dynasty, Qin Shihuangdi ordered the Great Wall be constructed to protect his empire from invasion by the Xiongnu people. However, the Great Wall as it exists today was not completed until the Ming dynasty.
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At the end of a time of political division known as the Warring States period, the state of Qin conquered all other states and established the Qin dynasty. It was China's first unified state whose power was centralized instead of spread among different kingdoms in the north and south. Although it lasted only about fifteen years, the Qin dynasty greatly influenced the next two thousand years of Chinese history.
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Han dynasty, 206 BCE–220 CE
ca. 145–ca. 87 BCE
Sima Qian, historian
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ca. 145–ca. 87 BCE
Sima Qian, historian
Sima Qian was an imperial official of the Han dynasty. He is best known for composing Records of the Grand Historian, a comprehensive history of China begun by his father Sima Tan and one of the most influential Chinese classical texts.
ca. 100 BCE–1453 CE
Silk Road
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ca. 100 BCE–1453 CE
Silk Road
The Silk Road was an ancient network of land and sea trade routes established during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) that existed until the middle of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). These trade routes stretched from China across Asia to the Near East, the Mediterranean, and East Africa.
Western Han dynasty, Dated 61 BCE
45–114
Ban Zhao, scholar
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45–114
Ban Zhao, scholar
Ban Zhao was a female scholar during the Han dynasty. In addition to her work as a historian, Ban Zhao authored the influential Confucian text Lessons for Women.
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Eastern Han dynasty, 100–150
ca. 100
Buddhism transmitted to China
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ca. 100
Buddhism transmitted to China
By 100 CE, missionaries had taken the Buddha’s teachings from his birthplace in South Asia to China.
ca. 100
Shuowen Jiezi
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ca. 100
Shuowen Jiezi
The first Chinese dictionary, Shuowen Jiezi, was published around 100 CE.
105
Invention of paper
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105
Invention of paper
Paper was invented in China during the Han dynasty.
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The Han dynasty reuinified China after the civil war following the death of Qin Shihuangdi in 210 BCE. It is divided into two periods: the Former (or Western) Han and the Later (or Eastern) Han. The Han dynasty was a pivotal period in the history of China, when many foundations were laid for enduring aspects of Chinese society.
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Period of Division, 220–589
365–427
Tao Yuanming, poet
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365–427
Tao Yuanming, poet
Tao Yuanming was a poet and recluse who lived during China's Period of Division. Also known by the name of Tao Qian, he is one of the most celebrated writers in Chinese literary history. Among his best-known works is the famous story "Peach Blossom Spring."
ca. 500
Art critic Xie He's Six Principles of Painting
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ca. 500
Art critic Xie He's Six Principles of Painting
Toward the end of the fifth century, the art critic Xie He (active 479–502) proposed the so-called Six Principles as the essential criteria for judging the quality of Chinese painting, and the aesthetic values and concerns he enunciated in his essay exerted a profound influence on later generations.
541–604 (reigned 581–604)
Emperor Wendi
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541–604 (reigned 581–604)
Emperor Wendi
Emperor Wendi was the first emperor of the Sui dynasty (581–618). Though it lasted only a short time, the dynasty Wendi established was significant in its reunification of China after the long Period of Division, thus paving the way for the great Tang dynasty.
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Period of Division, Northern Qi dynasty, 550–577
Period of Division, Northern Qi dynasty, 550–577
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Period of Division, Northern Qi dynasty, 550–577
Western Paradise of the Buddha Amitabha
Period of Division, Northern Qi dynasty, 550–577
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Period of Division, Northern Qi dynasty, 550–577
Cosmic Buddha Vairochana with the Realms of Existence
566–635 (reigned 618–626)
Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu of Tang)
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566–635 (reigned 618–626)
Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu of Tang)
Li Yuan was the founding emperor of the Tang dynasty, inaugurating a golden age in Chinese history. He is also known as Emperor Gaozu of Tang.
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ca. 581–618
Beginnings of imperial examination system
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ca. 581–618
Beginnings of imperial examination system
The imperial examination had its roots in the Sui dynasty (581–618) and was firmly established during the Tang (618–907). This highly competitve civil service exam emphasized knowledge of the Confucian classics, and was significant for instituting merit-based award of official positions. It remained an important pillar of the Chinese imperial system until it was abolished in 1905 as that system neared its end.
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The Period of Division refers to the four hundred years after the fall of the Han dynasty. Despite its political and social instability, this era witnessed a flourishing of culture, ideas, and art comparable to that of the European Renaissance. Constant cultural exchanges between China and the West and relative political stability at the end of the period paved the way for the arrival of the glorious Tang dynasty.
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Tang dynasty, 618–907
624–705
Empress Wu
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624–705
Empress Wu
Empress Wu, also known as Wu Zhao or Wu Zetian, was among the most powerful women in Chinese history. A concubine of Emperor Taizong and later wife of Emperor Gaozong, she effectively ruled the Tang dynasty during the reign of the ailing Gaozong (reigned 649–683) and after his death, before establishing her own short-lived Zhou dynasty.
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685–762 (reigned 713–756)
Emperor Xuanzong
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685–762 (reigned 713–756)
Emperor Xuanzong
Emperor Xuanzong was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty. His reign ended after the onset of the An Lushan Rebellion led by one of his own generals.
Middle of Tang dynasty, ca. 700–ca. 750
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Middle of Tang dynasty, ca. 700–ca. 750
Textile with floral medallions and lozenges
Tang dynasty, ca. 700–ca. 750
Tang dynasty, ca. 700–ca. 750
Tang dynasty, ca. 700–ca. 750
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Tang dynasty, ca. 700–ca. 750
Head of a tomb figure of a Sogdian or Central Asian traveler
712–770
Du Fu, poet
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712–770
Du Fu, poet
Du Fu is considered by many as the greatest Chinese poet along with his contemporary Li Bai, also known as Li Bo. Du Fu lived during the Tang dynasty and is emblematic of the golden age of poetry to which Chinese culture ascended at that period.
755–763
An Lushan Rebellion
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755–763
An Lushan Rebellion
The An Lushan Rebellion was an uprising led by General An Lushan (703–757), who attempted to overthrow the Tang dynasty's Emperor Xuanzong and declare himself emperor. Though ultimately unsuccessful, the An Lushan Rebellion had long-lasting effects on the Tang, which was irreversibly weakened by the conflict.
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ca. 868
Invention of woodblock printing
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ca. 868
Invention of woodblock printing
Woodblock printing emerged in China in the ninth century during the Tang dynasty.
ca. 900
Invention of gunpowder
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ca. 900
Invention of gunpowder
Gunpowder explosives were first used in China around the tenth century.
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The Tang dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history. Known for its strong military power, successful diplomatic relationships, economic prosperity, and cosmopolitan culture, Tang China was one of the greatest empires in the medieval world. During the Tang dynasty, China expanded its territory and secured peace and safety on overland trade routes—the Silk Road—that reached as far as Rome.
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Song dynasty, 960–1279
Tang to Northern Song dynasty, 1009
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Tang to Northern Song dynasty, 1009
Zither (qin) inscribed with the name “Dragon’s Moan”
1037–1101
Su Dongpo, literatus
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1037–1101
Su Dongpo, literatus
Su Dongpo, also known as Su Shi, was a scholar-official, writer, and artist who lived during the Northern Song dynasty. A renowned poet, painter, and calligrapher, he is the figure most associated with the flourishing literati culture of that period.
Northern Song dynasty, 1063
Northern Song or Southern Song dynasty, ca. 1100–1200
1127
Fall of Northern Song
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1127
Fall of Northern Song
The Northern Song dynasty started to disintegrate after a failed reform program—proposed in 1076 by the chief councilor, Wang Anshi—pitted conservative bureaucrats against proponents of reform. The Jurchen Jin in the north turned against the weakened court and entered the Song capital of Bianliang in 1127. Prince Kang of the Song dynasty retreated south and restored the Song in Lin'an (modern Hangzhou), establishing the Southern Song dynasty.
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Southern Song dynasty, ca.1127–ca. 1200
1130–1200
Zhu Xi, philosopher
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1130–1200
Zhu Xi, philosopher
Zhu Xi was an influential philosopher who lived during the Southern Song dynasty. He is the figure most associated with a school of thought called Neo-Confucianism, which emerged as a Confucian response to Daoist and Buddhist discourses of the time.
Southern Song dynasty, ca. 1150–1250
1215–1294
Emperor Khubilai Khan
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1215–1294
Emperor Khubilai Khan
Khubilai Khan was the leader of the Mongol Empire from 1260 until his death in 1294. When Khubilai Khan defeated the Southern Song and proclaimed the Yuan dynasty in 1279, China was reunited under foreign domination as part of a larger Mongol Empire.
Yuan dynasty, ca. 1250–1300
1275–1292
Explorer Marco Polo in China
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1275–1292
Explorer Marco Polo in China
Marco Polo (1254–1324) was an Italian explorer who spent nearly two decades in China during the Yuan dynasty. Though some scholars doubt the veracity of Marco Polo's claims, accounts of his travels were significant in offering Europeans a window into Chinese civilization, which the explorer held in high esteem.
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Following a period of political upheaval and division, the Song dynasty was a time of stability that allowed for economic, cultural, and artistic flourishing. It was characterized by a move away from nobility as the basis of official rank and toward a system of meritocracy based on the civil service examination. The Song dynasty was divided into two periods: the Northern Song (960–1126) and the Southern Song (1127–1279).
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Yuan dynasty, 1279–1368
1328–1398
Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Hongwu)
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1328–1398
Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Hongwu)
Zhu Yuanzhang was a rebel leader from the south of China who pushed the Yuan court out of China proper in 1368. He proclaimed the Ming dynasty and declared himself emperor after leading the revolt to defeat the Yuan.
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Yuan dynasty, ca. 1341
Yuan or Ming dynasty, ca. 1369
Established by Khubilai Khan's Mongol Empire, the Yuan dynasty was the first foreign dynasty in Chinese history to rule all of China. While Mongol officials dominated the court, many Chinese scholar-officials withdrew from public life to pursue artistic cultivation, especially landscape painting.
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Ming dynasty, 1368–1644
Ming dynasty, ca. 1400–1500
Ming dynasty, ca. 1400
Ming dynasty, ca. 1402–ca. 1424
1405–1433
Expeditions of Admiral Zheng He
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1405–1433
Expeditions of Admiral Zheng He
Starting in 1405, Zheng He embarked on a series of seven naval expeditions of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, and went as far as the east coast of Africa. However, under the pressure of the Confucian-dominated court that restricted overseas relations and trade, maritime activities and shipbuilding were scaled back after the last of these voyages was completed in 1433.
1406
Construction begins on the Forbidden City
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1406
Construction begins on the Forbidden City
During the Ming dynasty, the Yongle Emperor ordered construction of the palace compound now known as the Forbidden City in Beijing. Construction was completed in 1420.
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Ming dynasty, ca. 1400–1500
Ming dynasty, ca. 1480
Ming dynasty, ca. 1500–1699
Ming dynasty, ca. 1550
Ming dynasty, ca. 1600
1601–1610
Jesuit Matteo Ricci at Ming court
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1601–1610
Jesuit Matteo Ricci at Ming court
Matteo Ricci (1552–1610) was a Jesuit missionary from Italy who arrived in China in the late sixteenth century. In 1601, Emperor Wanli invited him to serve at the Ming court, where Ricci shared his knowledge of Western science and mapmaking, as well as fostering cross-cultural engagement through the writing and translation of several important texts.
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China returned to native Chinese rulership with the establishment of the Ming dynasty. The Ming dynasty generated significant accomplishments, including refurbishment of the Great Wall, major naval expeditions, maritime trade, a monetized economy, the development of the novel, expansion of printing, and production of exceptional porcelain, paintings, lacquer, and textiles. The last century of the dynasty was marked by border troubles, fewer crops due to a devastating cold wave, fiscal instability, and corruption at court.
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Qing dynasty, 1644–1911
1654–1722 (reigned 1661–1722)
Emperor Kangxi
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1654–1722 (reigned 1661–1722)
Emperor Kangxi
Emperor Kangxi reigned from 1661 to 1722 and with his successors Yongzheng and Qianlong was one of the three great Qing emperors. Beginning with the Kangxi Emperor, the Qing court became a leading patron of Chinese arts.
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Qing dynasty, ca. 1700–ca. 1750
Qing dynasty, ca. 1700–ca. 1716
1711–1799 (reigned 1736–1795)
Emperor Qianlong
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1711–1799 (reigned 1736–1795)
Emperor Qianlong
One of the great Qing rulers, Emperor Qianlong reigned from 1736 to 1795. The empire's territorial expansion reached its zenith under his leadership.
1715–1766
Jesuit Giuseppe Castiglione at Qing court
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1715–1766
Jesuit Giuseppe Castiglione at Qing court
Giuseppe Castiglione (1688–1766), also known as Lang Shining, was an Italian Jesuit missionary who served as a court painter during the Qing dynasty. He was a key figure in establishing the new court aesthetic of combining Western style realism with traditional brushwork.
Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign, 1736–1795
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Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign, 1736–1795
Box Decorated with Images of Spring and Longevity
Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign, 1736–1795
Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign, ca. 1750
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Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign, ca. 1750
The Qianlong Emperor as Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom
Qing dynasty, ca. 1820–1875
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Qing dynasty, ca. 1820–1875
Summer chaofu (formal court dress) for a top-rank prince
1835–1908
Empress Dowager Cixi
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1835–1908
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi was the last controlling imperial figure in the Qing dynasty. Beginning in 1861 she acted as regent to two successive emperors, and ultimately kept control of the government. Cixi was shrewd and formidable, but the late Qing court suffered from corruption, conservatism, and incompetence while struggling against foreign encroachment.
1839–1842
First Opium War
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1839–1842
First Opium War
The First Opium War was a Sino-British conflict sparked by Qing opposition to the British opium trade in China. China's defeat resulted in the Treaty of Nanjing, which was followed by what would become known as a series of "unequal treaties" that granted increasing concessions to foreign powers.
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1850–1864
Taiping Rebellion
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1850–1864
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was an enormous anti-Qing uprising led by Hong Xiuquan, a Christian from southern China who claimed to be the brother of Jesus Christ. Lasting fifteen years, the Taiping Rebellion speaks to the level of internal unrest during the later years of the Qing dynasty. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history.
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1856–1860
Second Opium War
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1856–1860
Second Opium War
In the Second Opium War, China clashed with Britain and France. Like the First Opium War, this was a conflict over opposition to Western imperialism and the opium trade, which ended in another loss for China.
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1866–1925
Sun Yat-sen, politician
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1866–1925
Sun Yat-sen, politician
Sun Yat-sen was the first leader of the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and a leader of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China.
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1887–1975
Chiang Kai-shek, politician
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1887–1975
Chiang Kai-shek, politician
Chiang Kai-shek became the second leader of the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) upon the death of Sun Yat-sen. He reunified China under Nationalist rule after the fragmentation of the Warlord Period (1916–1928) and became President of the Republic of China.
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1893–1976
Mao Zedong, politician
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1893–1976
Mao Zedong, politician
Mao Zedong was a leader in the Chinese Communist Party and in 1949 became the first Chairman of the People's Republic of China, a position he held until his death in 1976.
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1894–1895
First Sino-Japanese War
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1894–1895
First Sino-Japanese War
China suffered a defeat to Japan in the First Sino-Japanese War. The Treaty of Shimonoseki, which ended the conflict, required China to make further territorial concessions to foreign powers.
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1899–1901
Boxer Rebellion
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1899–1901
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxers were a secret society of spiritual and martial arts practitioners who started an anti-foreign and anti-Christian movement at the end of the nineteenth century. This nationalist movement evolved into an international war on Chinese soil before it was quelled in 1901.
Qing dynasty, 1903–1905
The Qing dynasty was founded by a northeast Asian people who called themselves Manchus. Manchu rule did not completely uproot the government of China or its social and cultural life; instead, Manchu rulers selectively continued and adapted aspects of Chinese life they admired. The Qing dynasty, especially in the eighteenth century when the Qing empire was the largest and most prosperous in the world, saw prolific cultural and artistic achievements.
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Modern China, 1912–Present
1912
Republic of China established
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1912
Republic of China established
With the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1911 and the abdication of the child emperor, Puyi, on February 12, 1912, the imperial era ended and a new modern period began with the founding of the Republic of China. Pictured is the design of the original flag of the Republic of China, in use until 1928.
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1919
May Fourth Movement
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1919
May Fourth Movement
Taking its name from the student-led anti-imperialist protests that took place in Beijing on May 4, 1919, the May Fourth Movement refers to a political and cultural movement seeking the modernization of China in the the 1910s and 1920s. It is sometimes referred to interchangeably as the New Culture Movement.
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1937–1945
Second Sino-Japanese War
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1937–1945
Second Sino-Japanese War
When Japan invaded China in 1937 after a series of increasing incursions, Chinese Communists and Nationalists united to fight a common enemy in what would evolve into the Second World War.
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1949
People's Republic of China established
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1949
People's Republic of China established
The Chinese Civil War and Communist Revolution concluded in 1949 when the Chinese Communist Party under Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China.
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1958–1962
Great Leap Forward
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1958–1962
Great Leap Forward
The Great Leap Forward was the name of Mao Zedong's Second Five-Year Plan after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Its dramatic restructuring of the Chinese economy and society led to famine and economic disaster.
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1966–1976
Cultural Revolution
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1966–1976
Cultural Revolution
In 1966 Mao Zedong instigated a campaign to promote Communist revolutionary ideals and purge China of the Four Olds: old customs, old habits, old culture, and old ideas. Characterized by hardships and violence at the hands of an organization of young revolutionaries called the Red Guard, this period ended with Mao Zedong's passing in 1976.
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1978
Reform and Opening Up
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1978
Reform and Opening Up
Reform and Opening Up is the name for the economic reforms spearheaded by Deng Xiaoping in the People's Republic of China in 1978. New policies transformed the economy and set the stage for rapid economic growth.
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1989
Tiananmen Square Massacre
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1989
Tiananmen Square Massacre
In 1989, student activists held a democratic protest movement at Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The demonstration was subject to a deadly crackdown, also known as the June 4th Incident, by the People's Liberation Army.
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1997
Handover of Hong Kong
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1997
Handover of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, which had been a colony of the United Kingdom since 1841, returned to Chinese sovereignty as a Special Administrative Region in 1997.
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1999
Handover of Macau
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1999
Handover of Macau
Macau, which had been under Portuguese governance since 1557, returned to Chinese sovereignty as a Special Administrative Region in 1999.
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Modern China, 2001
Modern China, 2001–2004
2008
Olympic Games in Beijing
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2008
Olympic Games in Beijing
In 2008, the People's Republic of China hosted its first Summer Olympics in its capital city of Beijing, marking a notable appearance of the country on the world stage.
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The founding of the Republic of China in 1912 marked an end to over two thousand years of imperial rule and the establishment of modern political systems. This period also includes the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, which continues to the present day.
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