1840
The Opium War
The Opium War breaks out
Britain forced China open with gunboats. China gradually became a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society, and the Chinese nation suffered unprecedented calamity.
Home / THE ROAD TO REJUVENATION
History
Since modern times, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has been its greatest dream — a journey from hardship towards renewal.
Chapter 1 · 1840 — 1919
Struggling to Survive
After the Opium War, China was reduced to a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society. Generations of patriots searched for a way to save the nation.
1894
The First Sino-Japanese War
The Sino-Japanese War of 1894
Deng Shichang and other officers of the Beiyang Fleet died in the Battle of the Yalu. The Treaty of Shimonoseki of 1895 deepened the national crisis, and “save the nation” became the call of the age.
1911
10 October · Wuchang Uprising
The Revolution of 1911
Led by Dr Sun Yat-sen, the revolution overthrew more than two thousand years of absolute monarchy and opened a new chapter in China's democratic revolution.
Chapter 2 · 1919 — 1949
Standing Up
The founding of the Communist Party of China transformed the Chinese revolution. After 28 years of struggle, the Chinese people stood up.
1919
4 May
The May Fourth Movement
Students in Beijing took to the streets in a patriotic movement against imperialism and feudalism, which helped spread Marxism in China. The May Fourth spirit — patriotism, progress, democracy and science — lives on.
1921
July · Shanghai / Jiaxing
The Communist Party of China is founded
The First National Congress of the CPC opened in Shanghai and held its final session on a red boat on South Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang. The Chinese revolution took on an entirely new look.
1927
1 August · Nanchang
The Nanchang Uprising
The first shot of armed resistance against the Kuomintang reactionaries gave birth to the people's army. 1 August later became Army Day.
1934
1934 — 1936
The Long March
The Red Army broke through encirclement, crossed the Dadu River, seized the Luding Bridge, and climbed snow mountains and crossed grasslands. The First Front Army marched 12,500 kilometres. In October 1936 the three main forces joined up — the spirit of the Long March was born.
1937
7 July · Marco Polo Bridge
Nationwide resistance begins
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident marked the start of nationwide resistance against Japanese aggression. That December, Japanese troops carried out the Nanjing Massacre, killing 300,000 Chinese.
1945
September · Surrender in Nanjing
Victory in the War of Resistance
Japan announced its unconditional surrender on 15 August and signed the instrument of surrender on 2 September; the surrender ceremony for the China theatre was held in Nanjing on 9 September. After 14 years of bloody struggle, the Chinese people won their first complete victory against foreign invasion in modern times.
1949
1 October · Beijing
The People's Republic of China is founded
At the founding ceremony in Tian'anmen Square, two giant slogans hung on either side of the gate: “Long Live the People's Republic of China” and “Long Live the Great Unity of the Peoples of the World”. The Chinese people had stood up!
Chapter 3 · 1949 — 1978
Building a New China
Starting from almost nothing, the Chinese people relied on their own efforts to build an independent and fairly complete industrial and economic system.
1950
October · Yalu River
The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea
The Chinese People's Volunteers crossed the Yalu River to defend the country. The armistice was signed on 27 July 1953, securing new China's place in the world. Pictured: the sculpture of the Volunteers crossing the river on the Broken Bridge in Dandong.
1964
16 October · Lop Nur
China's first atomic bomb
China's first hydrogen bomb followed on 17 June 1967, and the satellite Dong Fang Hong 1 flew on 24 April 1970. The “Two Bombs, One Satellite” program became the backbone of the nation.
1971
25 October · New York
China's lawful seat in the UN restored
The 26th UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, restoring all lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations.
Chapter 4 · 1978 — today
Growing Prosperous and Strong
Reform and opening-up decided the destiny of contemporary China. The nation has made a great leap from standing up to growing prosperous and becoming strong.
1978
December · Third Plenary Session
Reform and opening-up
The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee launched a new era of reform, opening-up and socialist modernisation. Shenzhen's rise from a border town to an international city is its living symbol.
1997
1 July · Hong Kong
Hong Kong returns to the motherland
The Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong — the great vision of “one country, two systems” became reality.
1999
20 December · Macao
Macao returns to the motherland
Macao returned to the motherland, washing away a century of humiliation. The “Lotus in Full Bloom” sculpture, a gift from the central government, stands in Golden Lotus Square.
2001
11 December
China joins the WTO
China became a member of the World Trade Organization, opening a new stage of opening-up. Today China is the world's largest trader in goods.
2003
15 October
China's first astronaut
Yang Liwei flew into space aboard Shenzhou-5, fulfilling the Chinese nation's thousand-year dream of flight.
2008
8 August · Beijing
The Beijing Olympic Games
The 29th Summer Olympics opened in Beijing: “One World, One Dream”. The same year, the whole nation stood together after the Wenchuan earthquake.
2012
November · 18th Party Congress
A new era
With the 18th National Congress of the CPC, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a new era.
2021
25 February · 1 July
A moderately prosperous society
China declared complete victory over absolute poverty, and at the celebration of the CPC's centenary announced that a moderately prosperous society had been built in all respects.
2022
February · Beijing
Winter Olympics and Tiangong
Beijing hosted the Winter Olympics and became the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Games. By year's end, the Tiangong space station was complete.
2024
25 June
Chang'e-6 returns from the far side of the Moon
Chang'e-6 brought back humanity's first samples from the far side of the Moon, in the year of the PRC's 75th anniversary.
2025
3 September · Tian'anmen Square
80th anniversary of victory
A grand commemoration of the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was held in Beijing. Remember history, honour the fallen, cherish peace, and build the future.
To be continued · Marching towards national rejuvenation