A calendar of Chinese history
27 events
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Death of Qi Jiguang
Death
General Qi Jiguang dies of tuberculosis in 1588. Born in 1528 in Luqiao, Shandong, this celebrated Ming dynasty soldier is best known for his fight against the Japanese pirates (wokou), from 1555 in Zhejiang province, and, late in his career, for helping to strengthen the Great Wall.
Source : Qi Jiguang
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Tonghai earthquake strikes Yunnan
Disaster
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes Tonghai County in Yunnan province shortly after one in the morning, reaching a maximum Mercalli intensity of X. Between 10,000 and 15,000 people are killed and about 26,000 injured. Occurring at the height of the Cultural Revolution, it ranks among the deadliest earthquakes of its decade.
Source : 1970 Tonghai earthquake
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Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival
Festival
On 5 January the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival opens in Harbin. The city, capital of Heilongjiang province on the southern bank of the Songhua River, is the main political, economic, scientific and cultural centre of northeastern China.
Source : Harbin
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Birth of Xu Xiake
Birth
Xu Xiake, born Xu Hongzu, comes into the world under the Ming dynasty. A traveller and geographer, he is remembered above all for his travel diaries, which earn him a reputation as the foremost explorer of the late Ming; he dies in 1641.
Source : Xu Xiake · On chine.in
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Birth of Jiang Wen
Birth
Jiang Wen is born in 1963 in Tangshan. Actor, director, screenwriter and producer, he is best known in the West as an actor, for pairing with Gong Li in Zhang Yimou's Red Sorghum.
Source : Jiang Wen
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Death of Momofuku Ando
Death
Momofuku Ando, founder and head of Nissin Foods, dies in 2007. Born Go Peh-hok in 1910 in Taiwan, then a Japanese colony, he invented the modern form of instant noodles, Chikin Ramen, whose popularity earned him the nickname Mr Noodle.
Source : Momofuku Andō
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Taiwan High Speed Rail opens
Economy
On 5 January 2007, Taiwan High Speed Rail enters service: 345 kilometres along the island's west coast, from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Built at a cost of 15 billion US dollars, the line is run with trains derived from Japan's Shinkansen technology and built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which reach 300 km/h and can in theory link the two cities in 90 minutes, against 4 hours 50 minutes on the conventional network.
Source : Ligne à grande vitesse de Taïwan
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Death of Li Chengqi
Death
Li Chengqi, an imperial prince of the Tang dynasty, dies. Crown prince during the first reign of his father Emperor Ruizong, he yields the position to his younger half-brother Li Longji, the future Emperor Xuanzong, and is posthumously honoured as Emperor Rang.
Source : Li Chengqi
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Birth of Bernard Leach
Birth
British potter Bernard Leach is born in Hong Kong. His 1940 work A Potter's Book becomes a standard reference and builds a bridge between East and West in the world of ceramics; he dies in Saint Ives, Cornwall, in 1979.
Source : Bernard Leach
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Death of Ding Wenjiang
Death
Geologist Ding Wenjiang dies. A founding figure of Chinese geology, he is also the first Chinese scholar to make a systematic study of the Yi script.
Source : Ding Wenjiang
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Death of Margaret Chung
Death
Margaret Chung, the first Chinese American woman to become a physician, dies. A medical graduate of 1916, she opens one of the first clinics in San Francisco's Chinatown in the early 1920s and, during the war against Japan, secretly recruits American volunteers to fight in China.
Source : Margaret Chung
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Birth of Mai Jia
Birth
Novelist Jiang Benhu, better known by his pen name Mai Jia, is born. He goes on to serve as president of the Zhejiang Writers Association and vice president of the Zhejiang Literature and Art Association.
Source : Mai Jia
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Birth of Xia Xuanze
Birth
Badminton player Xia Xuanze is born in Rui'an. A leading figure of the sport in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he wins Olympic bronze in 2000, the world title in 2003 and the Thomas Cup twice with the Chinese team, which he later coaches.
Source : Xia Xuanze
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Birth of Li Ting
Birth
Tennis player Li Ting is born in 1980 in Wuhan. A professional since 2000, she wins the Olympic women's doubles gold medal with Sun Tiantian in Athens in 2004, and takes nine WTA doubles titles over her career.
Source : Li Ting (tennis)
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Birth of Wu Yang
Birth
Table tennis player Wu Yang is born. Known for an unorthodox but steady chopping game and strong counter-attacks, she wins the team event at the 2009 Asian Championships and the singles title at the 2009 World Junior Championships.
Source : Wu Yang
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Birth of Zhang Yuning
Birth
Footballer Zhang Yuning is born in Wenzhou. A striker, he goes on to play for Beijing Sinobo Guoan and for the Chinese national team.
Source : Zhang Yuning
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Death of Pei Mian
Death
Pei Mian, Duke of Ji, who served as chancellor under Emperors Suzong and Daizong of the Tang dynasty, dies. Remembered for his loyalty to the Tang during the An Lushan Rebellion, he is also judged harshly by historians for his greed.
Source : Pei Mian
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Birth of Liu Jianjun
Birth
Badminton player Liu Jianjun is born in Ningbo. He competes internationally throughout the 1990s.
Source : Liu Jianjun
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Birth of Wei Haiying
Birth
Footballer Wei Haiying is born in Tunchang. A forward, she goes on to play for the Chinese national team.
Source : Wei Haiying
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Birth of Tang Yongshu
Birth
Badminton player Tang Yongshu, also known as Tang He Tian, is born. She competes for China in the 1990s before representing Australia through the 2000s and 2010s.
Source : Tang He Tian
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Birth of Fu Ming
Birth
Football referee Fu Ming is born. A FIFA international referee from 2014, he is hired by the Chinese Football Association in 2019 as one of its professional referees.
Source : Fu Ming
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Birth of Zhu Fangyu
Birth
Basketball player Zhu Fangyu is born in Liuzhou. He plays as a forward.
Source : Zhu Fangyu
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Birth of Liu Xiaosheng
Birth
Sprinter Liu Xiaosheng is born in Raoping. He specialises in the 400 metres.
Source : Liu Xiaosheng
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Birth of Yang Yansheng
Birth
Athlete Yang Yansheng is born in Binzhou. He specialises in the pole vault.
Source : Yang Yansheng
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Birth of Liu Zhiyu
Birth
Rower Liu Zhiyu is born in Shenzhen. He represents China at the Tokyo 2020 Games and takes bronze in the double sculls.
Source : Liu Zhiyu
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Birth of Lin Sheng
Birth
Fencer Lin Sheng, a native of Fuzhou, is born. A left-hander, she competes in the épée with a pistol grip.
Source : Lin Sheng