A calendar of Chinese history
18 events
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War
Britain declares war on the Qing dynasty
On 5 September 1839, the United Kingdom declares war on the Qing dynasty. The First Opium War grew out of the seizure at Guangzhou of British merchants' opium stocks, for which London demanded compensation in the name of free trade.
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Death
Death of Zuo Zongtang
Statesman and military leader Zuo Zongtang dies on 5 September 1885. Born in 1812 north of Changsha, in Hunan, and made first Marquis Kejin of the second class, he is known in the West as General Tso.
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Politics
Founding of the Southern Han
On 5 September 917, Liu Yan proclaims himself emperor at his capital of Panyu and founds the Southern Han state in southern China. It was one of the Ten Kingdoms of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
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Birth
Birth of Fan Zhongyan
Statesman and scholar Fan Zhongyan is born on 5 September 989. Appointed vice chancellor by Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song, he led the short-lived Qingli reforms, which went on to inspire Wang Anshi.
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Birth
Birth of the Hongguang Emperor
Zhu Yousong, the future Hongguang Emperor, is born on 5 September 1607. A grandson of the Wanli Emperor, he was the first ruler of the Southern Ming and reigned briefly in southern China from 1644 to 1645, after rebels led by Li Zicheng took Beijing.
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Birth
Birth of Li Jinhui
Composer Li Jinhui is born on 5 September 1891. The creator of the shidaiqu style, he is regarded as the father of Chinese popular music; his songs, condemned as corrupting public morals, were banned after 1949 and he was persecuted until his death in 1967.
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Death
Death of Thubten Jigme Norbu
The lama Thubten Jigme Norbu dies in Bloomington on 5 September 2008. Born in 1922 at Taktser, in Amdo, the sixth Taktser Rinpoche of Kumbum monastery and an elder brother of the 14th Dalai Lama, he went into exile in 1951 and was the first Tibetan to settle in the United States.
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Politics
G20 summit in Hangzhou
The eleventh G20 summit is held on 4 and 5 September 2016 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. It is the first summit of the group hosted by China.
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Disaster
Luding earthquake
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes Luding County in Sichuan on 5 September 2022 at 12:52 local time. Ninety-three people are killed, 424 injured, and more than 13,000 homes and other structures damaged or destroyed.
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Birth
Birth of Lucille Soong
Chinese-American actress Lucille Soong is born in China on 5 September 1935. After guest parts in many series, including Desperate Housewives, she found late recognition playing Grandma Huang in an American sitcom that ran from 2015 to 2020.
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Birth
Birth of Dayo Wong
Hong Kong actor and singer Dayo Wong is born on 5 September 1960. He is best known for his stand-up shows and his television roles.
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Birth
Birth of Wu Pao-chun
Taiwanese baker Wu Pao-chun is born on 5 September 1970. Crowned Master Baker in the bread category at the 2010 Bakery Masters in Paris, he is known for a rose and lychee bread made with Taiwanese ingredients.
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Birth
Birth of Yu Nan
Chinese actress Yu Nan is born in Dalian on 5 September 1978.
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Birth
Birth of Zhang Zhong
Chess player Zhang Zhong is born on 5 September 1978. A two-time Chinese champion and the 2005 Asian champion, he became China's ninth grandmaster in 1998.
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Birth
Birth of Cyndi Wang
Taiwanese singer and actress Cyndi Wang is born on 5 September 1982.
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Death
Death of Meng Qingshu
Politician Meng Qingshu dies on 5 September 1983. Born in 1911, she was a member of the 28 Bolsheviks and the wife of Chinese Communist Party leader Wang Ming.
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Birth
Birth of Shinichi Chan
Hong Kong international footballer Shinichi Chan is born in Tokyo on 5 September 2002. A left-back, he plays for Shanghai Shenhua.
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Birth
Birth of Yu Yiting
Chinese swimmer Yu Yiting is born on 5 September 2005.