The Qing Court Moves to Beijing
On October 30, 1644, the Qing dynasty made Beijing its capital, when the young Shunzhi emperor was enthroned there after the fall of the Ming.
The Arrow Incident Starts the Second Opium War
Chinese officials searched the lorcha Arrow at Guangzhou on October 8, 1856, and Britain used the incident to start the Second Opium War.
The Arrow Incident Opens the Second Opium War
On October 23, 1856, British forces attacked the forts on the Pearl river near Guangzhou, opening the Second Opium War.
The Convention of Beijing Ends the Second Opium War
On October 24, 1860, the Qing court signed the Convention of Beijing with Britain, ending the Second Opium War on terms imposed on China.
Peng Dehuai Is Born in Hunan
On October 24, 1898, Peng Dehuai, one of the ten marshals of the People's Liberation Army and commander in the Korean War, was born in Hunan.
The Boxer Protocol Is Signed in Beijing
On September 7, 1901, China signed the Boxer Protocol with eleven powers, agreeing to a huge indemnity and foreign troops in Beijing.
The Mukden Incident Gives Japan a Pretext to Invade Manchuria
On September 18, 1931, the staged Mukden Incident gave Japan's Kwantung Army a pretext to invade and occupy Manchuria.
The Writer Lu Xun Dies in Shanghai
On October 19, 1936, the Chinese writer Lu Xun, author of The Diary of a Madman and The True Story of Ah Q, died in Shanghai aged 55.
The Three Red Armies Meet in Gansu
On October 22, 1936, the main Red Army forces met at Jiangtaibao in Gansu, completing the Long March that had begun in 1934.
The Defence of Sihang Warehouse
On October 26, 1937, a Chinese battalion under Xie Jinyuan began defending Sihang warehouse in Shanghai, holding out for four days.
The Battle of Wuhan Ends
On October 25, 1938, Chinese forces withdrew from Wuhan, ending a four and a half month battle and beginning a long stalemate in the war with Japan.
Japan Surrenders to China in Nanjing
On September 9, 1945, Japan surrendered to China in Nanjing, ending a war that had cost China tens of millions of lives.
China Resumes Sovereignty Over Taiwan
On October 25, 1945, Japan surrendered its forces in Taiwan to China, ending fifty years of colonial rule and returning the island to Chinese sovereignty.
The First Plenary Session of the CPPCC Opens in Beiping
On September 21, 1949, the first CPPCC plenary session opened in Beiping and began the process that established the People's Republic of China.
The People's Republic of China Is Proclaimed
On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China from the Tiananmen Gate in Beijing.
The Government Administration Council Is Set Up
On October 21, 1949, the Government Administration Council of the Central People's Government was formed, with Zhou Enlai as premier.
The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Is Established
On October 25, 1958, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established in north west China, with Yinchuan as its capital.
Chinese Troops Leave North Korea
On October 26, 1958, the last Chinese units withdrew from North Korea, five years after the armistice that ended the fighting.
War Breaks Out on the China-India Border
On October 20, 1962, fighting began along the China-India border in the Himalayas, opening a war that lasted about a month.
China Explodes Its First Atomic Bomb
China exploded its first atomic bomb at Lop Nur on October 16, 1964, becoming the fifth country with nuclear weapons.
China Tests a Nuclear-Armed Missile
On October 27, 1966, China carried out its first flight test of a nuclear-armed missile, which detonated at its target in the west.
Work Begins on the Tazara Railway
On October 28, 1970, construction began on the Tazara railway, built with Chinese aid to link Zambia to the coast at Dar es Salaam.
China and Japan Sign the Joint Statement Normalising Relations
On September 29, 1972, China and Japan signed a joint statement in Beijing normalising diplomatic relations after 25 years.
The Gang of Four Are Arrested, Ending the Cultural Revolution
Four of China's most powerful radicals, including Mao Zedong's widow, were arrested in Beijing on October 6, 1976.
China Decides to Restore the University Entrance Examination
On October 21, 1977, China announced the restoration of the national university entrance examination, which had been suspended since 1966.
Deng Xiaoping Visits Japan
On October 22, 1978, Deng Xiaoping arrived in Tokyo, the first Chinese leader to visit Japan since 1949, for the treaty of peace and friendship.
The IOC Restores China's Seat
On October 25, 1979, the International Olympic Committee adopted the Nagoya resolution, restoring the People's Republic of China's seat.
Britain and China Initial the Joint Declaration on Hong Kong
On September 26, 1984, Britain and China initialled the Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, setting the terms for the 1997 handover.
Marshal Ye Jianying Dies
On October 22, 1986, Marshal Ye Jianying, one of the ten marshals of the People's Liberation Army, died in Beijing at the age of 89.
Project Hope Is Set Up
On October 30, 1989, Project Hope was announced in China, a public fund to pay the school costs of poor children in the countryside.
Jiang Zemin Visits the United States
On October 26, 1997, Jiang Zemin arrived in the United States for the first state visit by a Chinese head of state since 1985.
China Signs the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
On October 27, 1997, China signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at the United Nations in New York.
The Yellow River Is Diverted at Xiaolangdi
On October 28, 1997, the Yellow river was diverted at Xiaolangdi and the dam was closed, a key step in a large flood control project.
China Launches the First Beidou Satellite
On October 31, 2000, China launched the first satellite of the Beidou navigation system, its own satellite positioning service.
China Launches Shenzhou 5, Its First Crewed Spaceflight
China launched Shenzhou 5 on October 15, 2003, carrying Yang Liwei, making it the third country to send a human into space alone.
The Writer Ba Jin Dies in Shanghai
On October 17, 2005, the Chinese novelist Ba Jin, author of the Torrent trilogy, died in Shanghai at the age of 100.
China Launches Shenzhou 7 with Three Astronauts
On September 25, 2008, China launched Shenzhou 7, and Zhai Zhigang performed the first Chinese spacewalk two days later.
The Seventh Military World Games Open in Wuhan
On October 18, 2019, the seventh Military World Games opened in Wuhan, China, with more than 100 countries taking part.
China Launches Shenzhou 13 With Three Astronauts
Shenzhou 13 launched on October 16, 2021, carrying three astronauts for six months aboard the Tiangong space station.
The Third Piece
China launched the Mengtian laboratory module on October 31, 2022, completing the T-shaped assembly of its space station.