History of China
Chinese history information about chronology and timeline of ancient China with list of Chinese dynasties period such as Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Overview
China, one of the countries that can boast of an ancient civilization, has a long and mysterious history - almost 5,000 years of it! Like most other great civilizations of the world, China can trace her culture back to a blend of small original tribes which have expanded till they became the great country we have today.
It is recorded that Yuanmou man is the oldest hominoid in China and the oldest dynasty is Xia Dynasty. From the long history of China, there emerge many eminent people that have contributed a lot to the development of the whole country and to the enrichment of her history. Among them, there are emperors like Li Shimin (emperor Taizong of the Tang), philosophers like Confucius, great patriotic poets like Qu Yuan and so on.
Chinese society has progressed through five major stages - Primitive Society, Slave Society, Feudal Society, Semi-feudal and Semi-colonial Society, and Socialist Society. The rise and fall of the great dynasties forms a thread that runs through Chinese history, almost from the beginning. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st, 1949, China has become a socialist society and become stronger and stronger.
Timeline of Chinese History (Click to enlarge)
Chinese History Chronology
1.7 million years ago - the 21st century BC
recorded leaders include Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun...
around the Yellow River and Yangtze River in central China
Anyi ( in Yuncheng, Shanxi); Yangcheng (in today's Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, Henan); Yangdi (in today's Yuzhou, Henan); Zhenxun (in Luoyang, Henan)
Bo (in Shangqiu, Henan); Yin (in Anyang, Henan)
Fengjing and Haojing (in today's Xian, Shaanxi)
--- Spring and Autumn Period
Xianyang (in today's Xianyang and Xian of Shaanxi)
Pingcheng (today's Datong, Shanxi); Luoyang
Yuan Shanjian (actually controlled by Gao Huan)
Yecheng (in Linzhang, Handan, Hebei)
Yuan Baoju (actually controlled by Yuwen Tai)
Daxing (in today's Xian, Shaanxi); Luoyang
Five Dynasties and Ten States
Zhu Wen (Zhu Quanzhong / Zhu Huang)
Shangjing (Baarin Left Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia)
Wan-yen A-ku-ta (Wanyan Aguda / Wanyan Min)
Huining (Harbin, Heilongjiang); Zhongdu (today's Beijing); Bianjing (Kaifeng)
Yingtian (today's Nanjing, Jiangsu); Shuntian (today's Beijing)
Aisin Gioro Nurhachi / Hong Taiji / Fulin (Emeror Shunzhi)
- Last updated on Aug. 08, 2025 by Gabby Li -
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