Timeline of China History

China has over 3,000 years of history, based on the earliest written records. China's timeline shows the rise and fall of the main 15 Chinese dynasties, and modern era governments.
This table shows the timeline of Chinese history. Read on for the years of China's dynasties and coexisting kingdoms with their founders and capitals.
Years
Dynasty
(Eras and sub-eras)
Periods of
Coexisting Kingdoms
Founder
(also known as)
Capital
(Modern City Area)
c. 2100–1600 BC
Xia Dynasty
Yu the Great
Zhenxun (Luoyang), Yangcheng (Dengfeng), Zhengzhou
c.1600–1046 BC
Shang Dynasty
King Tang
Yin (Anyang)
c. 1046–256 BC
Zhou Dynasty
c. 1046–771 BC
Western Zhou
Ji Fa (King Wu of Zhou)
Fengjing and Haojing
c. 770–475 BC
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn Period
Ji Yiju (King Ping of Zhou)
Luoyi (Luoyang)
475–221 BC
Eastern Zhou
Warring States Period
221–206 BC
Qin Dynasty
Ying Zheng (Qin Shihuang 'First Emperor of Qin')
Xianyang (Xi'an)
206 BC–220 AD
Han Dynasty
Liu Bang
Chang'an (Xi'an)
206 BC – 9 AD
Western Han (Former Han)
Liu Bang
Chang'an (Xi'an)
9–23
Xin Dynasty
Wang Mang
Chang'an (Xi'an)
25–220
Eastern Han (Later Han)
Liu Xiu
Luoyang
220–265
Three Kingdoms
Kingdom of Wei
Cao Pi
Luoyang
221–263
Kingdom of Shu
Liu Bang
Chengdu
222–280
Kingdom of Wu
Jianye (Nanjing)
Jianye (Nanjing)
265–420
Jin Dynasty (Sima Jin)
Sima Yan
Luoyang
265–316
Western Jin
Sima Yan
Luoyang
317–420
Eastern Jin
Sima Rui
Jiankang (Nanjing)
304–439
Five Hus and Sixteen States
420–589
Northern and Southern Dynasties
386–581
Northern Dynasties
386–534
Northern Wei
Tuoba Gui
Pingcheng (Datong), Luoyang
534–550
Eastern Wei
Yuan Shanjian (regent: Gao Huan)
Yecheng (Handan)
535–557
Western Wei
Yuan Baoju (regent: Yuwen Tai)
Chang'an (Xi'an)
550–577
Northern Qi
Gao Yang
Yecheng (Handan)
557–581
Northern Zhou
Yuwen Jue
Chang'an (Xi'an)
420–589
Southern Dynasties
420–479
Song
Liu Yu
Jiankang (Nanjing)
479–502
Qi
Xiao Daocehng
Jiankang (Nanjing)
502–557
Liang
Xiao Yan
Jiankang (Nanjing)
557–589
Chen
Chen Baxian
Jiankang (Nanjing)
581–618
Sui Dynasty
Yang Jian
Daxing (Xi'an), Luoyang
618–907
Tang Dynasty
Li Yuan
Chang'an (Xi'an), Luoyang
907–960
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
907–923
Later Liang
Zhu Wen
Kaifeng
923–936
Later Tang
Li Cunxu
Luoyang
936–946
Later Jin
Shi Jintang
Kaifeng
947–950
later Han
Liu zhiyuan
Kaifeng
951–960
Later Zhou
Guowei
Kaifeng
907–1125
Liao Dynasty
Yelv Abaoji
Shangjing (Chifeng)
960–1279
Song Dynasty
Zhao Kuangyin
960–1127
Northern Song
Zhao Kuangyin
Bianjing (Kaifeng)
1127–1279
Southern Song
Zhou Gou
Lin'an (Hangzhou)
1038–1227
Western Xia Dynasty
Li Yuanhao
Xingqing (Yinchuan)
1115–1234
Great Jin Dynasty (Jurchen Dynasty)
Aguda
Huining (Harbin), Zhongdu (Beijing), Bianjing (Kaifeng)
1271–1368
Yuan Dynasty
Kublai Khan
Dadu (Beijing)
1368–1644
Ming Dynasty
Zhu Yuanzhang
Yingtian (Nanjing), Shuntian (Beijing)
1644–1912
Qing Dynasty
Hong Taiji (Aisin Gioro Nurhachi)
Beijing
1912–1949
Republic of China
Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan)
Beijing, Wuhan, Nanjing
1949–present
People's Republic of China
Mao Zedong
Beijing
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