This article attempts to present a concise picture of significant developments.
Events are grouped chronologically into major directories, with individual years listed in sub-directories.
Events outside of China and those involving foreign countries are listed in blue.
It is important to note that the information presented here does not necessarily match official or academic versions of history, which often suffer from distortion, taboo, official censorship, self-censorship, diplomatic constraints, etc.
We will continue to check and update accordingly.
The modern history of China can roughly be divided into several periods:
End of the Qing Dynasty (1911)
Civil wars and the Republican period (1912 - 1936)
War with Japan (1937 - 1945)
People’s Republic of China vs Republic of China (1949 - )
Modernization and democracy movements (1976 - )
Major Events
British victory at the Battle of Waterloo. (1815)
First Opium War. (1840)
Second Opium War. (1858)
Meiji Restoration in Japan. (1868)
First Sino-Japanese War. (1894)
Hundred Days' Reform. (1898)
Founding of the Republic of China. (1911)
Yuan Shikai attempts to become emperor.(1912-1916)
First World War. (1814-1818)
May Fourth movement for science and democracy. (1919)
Civil war among warlords. (1920-1923)
Northern Expedition and establishment of Nationalist China. (1924-1928)
Civil wars. (1929-1936)
Second Sino-Japanese War. (1937-1945)
Second World War. (1939-1945)
Civil war between Nationalists and Communists. (1945-1949)
Land reform in Taiwan. (1949)
Founding of the People’s Republic of China. (1949)
Korean War. (1950-1953)
Great Leap Forward. (1958-1961)
Cultural Revolution. (1966-1976)
Economic reform and the Four Modernizations. (1978)
Democratic elections in Taiwan. (1986)
Democracy movement in Beijing. (1989)
1815 - 1839
1815 – Britain and her allies defeat France at the Battle of Waterloo.
1816 – The British East India Company sends the Amherst mission to China for trading privileges. The mission fails.
1818 – China suffers a colossal trade deficit due to the illegal import of opium from British India.
1824 – Britain gains control of Singapore.
1833 – British government takes over trading relationships between Britain and China.
1834 – Britain demands equal terms on trading relationships with China.
1838 - Lin Zexu meets with Emperor Daoguang concerning the illegal import of opium.
1839 – Severe punishments were implemented for the sale and use of opium.
1839 – Lin Zexu orders the seizure of illegal opium from British and other foreign traders in areas near Guangzhou.
1840 - 1857
1840 – First Opium War between Britain and China. China is defeated.
1842 – Treaty of Nanjing. China signed the first unequal treaty. China pays war redemption to Britain. Hong Kong is ceded to Britain. Five ports would be open to foreign trade. Privileges were granted to Britain and British citizens in China.
1844 – Treaty with the United States and France granting many privileges similar to those given to Britain.
1846 – Restrictions against Catholicism and the Protestant faith lifted.
1850 – Taiping rebellion begins in Guangxi province. The uprising would last thirteen years. Millions would die in the process.
1853 – Zeng Guofan raises a local army in Hunan province to fight the Taiping forces.
1853 - Taiping forces captured Nanjing and established it as the Kingdom of Heavenly Peace capital.
1853 – United States naval commander Mathew C. Perry arrives in Japan. Japan would be open to foreign trade.
1853 – The Crimean War begins.
1854 – Russian fleet defeats a British and French fleet off the coast of China.
1856 – Second Opium War begins. Chinese officials search a Hong Kong ship flying the British flag for opium. British forces raid Guangzhou in retaliation.
1857 – British parliament approves a war against China.
1857 – British and French forces capture Guangzhou.
1858 - 1867
1858 – Second Opium War. British and French forces attack Tianjin and Beijing.
1858 – Treaty of Aigun with Russia. The most significant loss of territory in Chinese history.
1858 – Treaties with Britain, France, the United States and Russia. New ports opened for trade.
1859 – British representatives demanded entry into Beijing but were denied. British forces attacked Tianjin but failed. Chinese officials executed British negotiators.
1860 – British and French forces capture Tianjin and Beijing. The Summer Palace is burned and looted. Emperor Xianfeng flees to Manchuria and dies.
1860 – Treaty of Peking (Beijing) with Britain and France. China pays war indemnities. Tianjin becomes a trading port. Kowloon peninsula becomes part of the British colony in Hong Kong.
1860 – Treaty with Russia. China cedes territories between the Ussuri and the sea. Russia gains the port of Vladivostok and access to the Pacific.
1861 – Tongzhi Restoration. Emperor Tongzhi takes his reign at the age of five. Cixi (Empress Dowager) is in charge behind the scenes.
1862 – Treaty of Saigon. Vietnam cedes three provinces to the French.
1862 – A school headed by a missionary is opened in Beijing to teach English. The school would begin to teach French and Russian a year later.
1863 – Henry Wheaton’s Elements of International Law is translated into Chinese.
1864 – Qing army captures Nanjing. Taiping rebellion ends.
1865 – The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation begins operations in Shanghai.
1867 – France takes control of southern Vietnam.
1868 - 1880
1868 – Meiji Restoration in Japan
1870 – Korea, a Chinese protectorate, rejects Japan’s offer to establish diplomatic relations.
1870 – Anti-Christian riots in Tianjin.
1870 – Franco-Prussian War begins.
1871 – Proclamation of the German Empire.
1872 – Chinese boys are sent to the United States for education.
1873 – Foreign representatives meet the emperor without kowtowing.
1873 – All significant rebellions in China have been quelled.
1873 – Chinese reinforcements blocked the French attempt to take over the northern part of Vietnam.
1874 – Second Treaty of Saigon. The French recognize Vietnam as a country independent from China.
1875 – Japan occupies the Ryukyus.
1875 – Zuo Zongtang leads an army into Xinjiang.
1876 – China purchases modern gunboats from Europe.
1879 – Japan annexes the Ryukyus and renames it Okinawa.
1881 - 1893
1882 – Chinese troops help stop a coup in Korea.
1883 – Chinese troops battle the French in Vietnam.
1883 – Vietnam becomes a French protectorate.
1882 – Xinjiang is established as a province of China.
1884 – Chinese forces put down a coup in Korea staged by Japanese troops.
1885 – China and Japan agree to withdraw their forces from Korea.
1885 – France gains control of Vietnam.
1885 – Taiwan is established as a province of China.
1886 – Britain declares Burma (Myanmar) a British possession. Burma is no longer a Chinese protectorate.
1888 – Part of the naval fund is used to build the Summer Palace in Beijing.
1889 – Cixi announces her retirement. Emperor Guangxu comes into power.
1894 -1899
1894 – Sun Yat-sen offers his services to the Qing government but is ignored.
1894 – Japan breaks off relations with China. Japanese troops capture the Korean palace.
1894 – First Sino-Japanese War. Chinese troops were defeated in Korea. Chinese fleet was beaten off the coast of Korea.
1894 - Sun Yat-sen forms the Revive China Society in Hawaii. Members, primarily immigrants from Guangdong province, pledge to overthrow the Qing dynasty and create a Chinese republic.
1895 – China begins to train a New Army modelled after Western armies.
1895 – Reform memorial. Over one thousand scholars in Beijing, organized by Kang Youwei drafted a memorial asking for modernization in China.
1895 - Treaty of Shimonoseki. China pays war indemnities to Japan. Taiwan is ceded to Japan. Korea would be recognized as independent from China.
1895 – The uprising in Guangzhou organized by the Revive China Society fails.
1896 – First treaty of alliance between China and Russia. The Russian Far Eastern railway would be extended through Manchuria to Vladivostok.
1898 – The Spanish-American War. The United States defeated Spain and gained possession of the Philippines and Guam.
1898 - The Boxers United in the Righteous attempt to block the building of a Catholic church in Shandong province.
1898 – The Hundred Days’ Reform. Emperor Guangxu issues edicts for political, military, economic and educational reform. Reform soon fails. The Emperor is removed from power.
1899 – In Canada, Kang Youwei forms The Society to Protect the Emperor.
1900 - 1910
1900 – Boxer Rebellion. Boxers appear in Beijing and protest against Western influences. Christians are killed. Churches are burned. Railways are cut.
1900 - China declares war on foreign countries. Boxers surround the foreign legation quarter in Beijing. Eight foreign countries combine forces to capture Beijing and occupy the capital for thirteen months. Widespread looting, killing, and rape in sections occupied by some foreign troops. The Qing court flees to Xi’an.
1901 – China signs a peace agreement with foreign countries. China would pay war indemnities. Foreign troops would be allowed in Beijing.
1903 – Revolutionaries led by Sun Yat-sen established a military school in Tokyo.
1904 – Japan declares war on Russia. Japanese and Russian troops battle in Manchuria. The Russians are defeated.
1905 – Sun Yat-sen organizes the Revolutionary Alliance in Tokyo. Members are from provinces all over China.
1905 – Russia and Japan sign a peace treaty recognizing Korea as a Japanese protectorate.
1906 – Edict issued to make preparations for a constitutional monarchy.
1906 – Japan and Russia signed a secret treaty dividing their interests in Mongolia and Manchuria.
1908 – Completion of the first railway constructed by the Chinese. The railway connects Beijing and Zhangjiakou.
1908 – Cixi dies. Emperor Guangxu died one day before. There are rumours that he has been murdered. Three-year-old Puyi ascends to the throne.
1910 – An announcement is made to speed up political reform to achieve a constitutional monarchy.
1911
April - Uprising in Guangzhou fails.
June - Revolutionary efforts shift to central China.
September - New Army troops in Wuhan were sent to suppress protests in Sichuan province.
October – Accidental explosion in secret bomb factory located in Hankou. Police discover a membership list of revolutionaries.
October – Founding of the Republic of China. In anticipation of impending arrest, revolutionary officers among the New Army in Wuchang rise and captured local government headquarters. Subsequent events would lead to the founding of the Republic of China.
November – In Beijing, Yuan Shikai is appointed premier by the Qing emperor.
November – Revolutionary forces take over Shanghai.
November - Qing forces led by Yuan Shikai recapture Hankou.
November – Qing navy joins the revolution.
November - Japan and Britain indicate their support of the Qing government.
November – Qing forces recapture Hanyang and threaten to retake Wuchang.
November – Outer Mongolia (Mongolia) declares independence.
December – Revolutionary forces capture Nanjing.
December – Qing and revolutionary representatives meet in Shanghai for negotiations.
December – Sun Yat-sen arrives in Shanghai from overseas.
December – Provisional national assembly meets in Nanjing. Sun Yat-sen is elected provisional president of the Republic of China. Li Yuanhong is subsequently elected provisional vice-president.
December - Sun Yat-sen offers Yuan Shikai the presidency in exchange for supporting the revolution.
1912
January – Sun Yat-sen was inaugurated in Nanjing as provisional President of the Republic of China.
January - Yuan Shikai asks the Qing emperor to abdicate.
January – Generals of Qing forces express their support for a republic.
February – The last Qing emperor abdicates. Qing Dynasty ends after ruling China for 267 years. Yuan Shikai announces his intention to form a new government.
February – Sun Yat-sen announces his resignation as provisional President.
March - Draft constitution announced by the provisional National Assembly.
April – Sun Yat-sen leaves his position as provisional President. Yuan Shikai became provisional President but stayed in Beijing.
April – National Assembly decides to move the government to Beijing.
July – Secret agreement between Japan and Russia. The deal specifies areas of interest belonging to the two countries in Manchuria and Inner Mongolia.
August – Sun Yat-sen and others form the Nationalist Party (Guomindang or Kuomintang).
November – Agreement between Russia and Outer Mongolia. Russia would assist Outer Mongolia in achieving autonomy from China.
1913
March – The Nationalists Party wins control of the National Assembly.
March – Song Jiaoren, acting President of the Nationalist Party, is assassinated in Shanghai.
April – Beijing government under Yuan Shikai agrees to borrow a £25 million loan from five foreign nations under harsh terms, without the consent of the National Assembly.
July – The Second Revolution begins. Forces against Yuan Shikai rise in Jiangxi province. Seven provinces declare independence from Beijing. Anti-Yuan forces are soon defeated in a series of battles.
August – Sun Yat-sen leaves for Japan.
October – Beijing government signs railway agreement with Japan. Japan obtains extensive rights to operate railways in Manchuria.
October – A captive National Assembly in Beijing elects Yuan Shikai, president of the Republic of China. The new government is recognized by foreign countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the United States.
November – The Nationalist Party is outlawed. Members of the Nationalist Party are removed from the National Assembly. There is no longer a quorum in the Assembly.
November – Agreement with Russia. Russia recognizes Outer Mongolia as a protectorate of China. China recognizes Outer Mongolia as an autonomous region.
December 1913 - Sun Yat-sen established a Tokyo military school with about 80 students.
1914
January – National Assembly was disbanded by Yuan Shikai.
May – Beijing government announces a new constitution.
June – Japan announces exclusive rights to operate railways in Manchuria.
July – Britain signed an agreement with Tibet, establishing the border separating India and Tibet. Tibet achieves de facto independence from China.
July – In Japan, Sun Yat-sen renames the Nationalist Party to the Chinese Revolutionary Party. Sun has complete authority.
August - The First World War begins in Europe.
August – Beijing government declares neutrality in the European war.
August – Japan demanded German naval vessels leave China, and the German colony of Qingdao was handed over to Japan.
August – Japan declares war on Germany.
September – Japanese troops land in Shandong province.
November – German defenders in Qingdao surrender to Japanese and British forces.
1915
January – The Twenty-one Demands. In exchange for the support of Yuan Shikai, Japan secretly delivered twenty-one demands to Beijing. These demands include de facto Japanese economic control of Manchuria and the cession of German rights in Shandong province to Japan. Japan will take virtual control of the Shandong and Fujian provinces. Other political and economic demands would severely infringe on China’s sovereignty and put China under Japanese rule.
February – Beijing government begins negotiations with Japan on the Twenty-One Demands.
February – 30,000 Japanese troops land in Manchuria, Shandong province and the city of Tianjin.
May – Japan issues an ultimatum to Beijing to accept most of their demands.
May – China signs a treaty with Japan. Japan’s influence extends to the Yangtze River, Shandong and Fujian provinces, and Manchuria and Mongolia.
June - Treaty among China, Russia, and Outer Mongolia. Outer Mongolia has become an autonomous region.
August – Formation of an organization in preparation for Yuan Shikai to become emperor.
September - Chen Duxiu founded the Youth magazine (later renamed New Youth). Confucianism is depicted as a major cause of China's backwardness.
December – Yuan Shikai declares his intention to become emperor.
December – A National Protection Army rises in Yunnan province in opposition to Yuan Shikai.
1916
January – National Protection Army advances into Sichuan and Guizhou provinces. Local troops rise and join forces. Met by Yuan Shikai’s forces, the two armies fight a stalemate in Sichuan.
January - Guizhou province declares independence from Beijing.
January – Yuan Shiaki postpones his ascendance to the throne.
February – Guangxi province declares independence.
March – Japan recognizes the anti-Yuan forces.
March – Yuan Shikai falls ill and cancels plans to become emperor but would remain president.
March – National Protection Army and Yuan Shikai’s forces agree to a ceasefire.
April – Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces declare independence.
May - Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Hunan provinces declare independence.
June - Yuan Shikai dies of illness.
June – Li Yuanhong becomes president of the Beijing government.
August - The National Assembly reconvenes.
1917
February - Revolution in Russia.
March – Japan reaches an understanding with Britain, France, Russia, and Italy. Japan will take over German interests in the Pacific and East Asia. In return, Japan will get China involved in the European war.
March – China severs diplomatic relationship with Germany.
April – The United States enters the European war.
August – China declares war on Germany. China will support their European allies with labourers.
September - In opposition to the government in Beijing, a military government is established in Guangzhou. Sun Yat-sen is elected to head the government.
September - Guangzhou government also declares war on Germany.
September - Guangzhou government forms a Nationalist army.
November – Armies of the Beijing and Guangzhou governments battle in Hunan and Sichuan provinces.
October – October Revolution. Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, established a Soviet government in Russia.
1918
January – Soviet Russia expresses an interest in stationing a representative in China, giving up extraterritoriality and returning the Russian concessions to China.
March – Soviet Russia reaches a peace agreement with Germany.
May – Local generals take over the Guangzhou government. Sun Yat-sen becomes a private citizen and travels to Shanghai.
May – Beijing government reaches an agreement on military cooperation with Japan. Thousands of students in Beijing protest the military deal between Beijing and Tokyo. This marks the beginning of student movements in China.
July – Soviet Russia declares an interest in helping the people of China in resisting foreign oppression. Indicates the possibility of voiding all secret treaties between Tsarist Russia and China. Soviet Russia may release China from the obligation of paying war redemptions.
November – World War I ends.
November - Beijing and Guangzhou governments express a desire for peace.
December – Britain, Italy, France, and the United States formally recommend a ceasefire between the Beijing and Guangzhou governments.
1919
January – Peace conference opens in Paris.
February – Truce negotiations between the Beijing and Guangzhou governments begin in Shanghai. Negotiations end with limited success.
March – Soviet Russia sets up the Communist International (Comintern) to encourage socialist revolutions in other countries.
March - Soviet Russia contacts the Guangzhou government in a failed attempt to ally.
April – At the peace conference in Paris, it was decided that Japan would take over all of Germany’s rights in Shandong province.
May - May Fourth movement. Massive demonstrations against the Treaty of Versailles. Demonstrators demand the development of science and democracy in China. Confucian tradition is blamed for the country's backwardness. Westernization is viewed as a way to strengthen China against foreign domination.
June – Treaty of Versailles. In Paris, the delegation sent by the Beijing government is prevented from leaving their hotel by a crowd of Chinese students and demonstrators. The Chinese delegation does not sign the Treaty.
September – The Beijing government declares an end to the war against Germany.
October - The Chinese Revolutionary Party adopts its former name Nationalist Party (Guomindang or Kuomintang). The new party constitution no longer requires members to swear allegiance to Sun Yat-sen.
1920
March – Comintern representative G. N. Voitinsky arrives in Beijing. Voitinsky meets Li Dazhao, Chen Duxiu and other Communist supporters. Preparations are made to form a Chinese Communist Party.
April – Chinese translation of The Communist Manifesto is published.
May - Northern general Wu Peifu leads his army back north from Hunan province.
June – Mao Zedong meets Chen Duxiu in Shanghai.
July – War breaks out among the northern factions. The Northeast (Manchurian) faction, led by Zhang Zuolin, joined up with the Zhili faction, led by Cao Kun. The combined force coordinated with a Zhili army led by Wu Peifu. An attack is launched against the Anhui faction led by Duan Qirui. The brief war ended with the elimination of the Anhui army. Duan fled to the Japanese concession in Tianjin. The Northeast and Zhili factions then turn against each other.
October – Chen Jiongming, after receiving financial support from the Anhui faction, leads the Second Guangdong Army into Guangzhou.
November - Comintern representative G. N. Voitinsky meets Sun Yat-sen in Shanghai.
December – Sun Yat-sen arrives in Guangzhou from Shanghai.
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