The first historic solar eclipse is recorded in China.

coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place, initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty's rule over China

Liu Che, posthumously known as Emperor Wu of Han, assumes the throne over the Han Dynasty of China.

Liu Bei, a Chinese warlord and member of the Han royal house, declares himself emperor of Shu-Han and claims his legitimate succession to the Han Dynasty.

Ono no Imoko is dispatched as envoy to the Sui court in China (Traditional Japanese date: July 3, 607).

Li Yuan becomes Emperor Gaozu of Tang, initiating three centuries of Tang Dynasty rule over China.

Li Shimin, posthumously known as Emperor Taizong of Tang, assumes the throne over the Tang Dynasty of China.

Emperor Taizong of Tang, the Emperor of China, sends envoys to the Xueyantuo bearing gold and silk in order to seek the release of enslaved Chinese prisoners captured during the transition from Sui to Tang from the northern frontier; this embassy succeeded in freeing 80,000 Chinese men and women who were then returned to China.

In China, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang inters the bodies of relatives in the Qianling Mausoleum, located on Mount Liang outside Chang'an.

An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion during the Tang Dynasty of China.

The coronation of Zhao Kuangyin as Emperor Taizu of Song, initiating the Song Dynasty period of China that would last more than three centuries.

In China, the war elephant corps of the Southern Han are soundly defeated at Shao by crossbow fire from Song Dynasty troops.

Emperor Huizong abdicates the Chinese throne in favour of his son Emperor Qinzong.

Kublai Khan renames his empire "Yuan" (元 yuán), officially marking the start of the Yuan Dynasty of Mongolia and China.

While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Song Dynasty court hold the coronation ceremony for the young prince Zhao Shi, making him Emperor Duanzong of Song.

A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China.

Beginning date of the Battle of Lake Poyang; the forces of two Chinese rebel leaders — Chen Youliang and Zhu Yuanzhang — are pitted against each other in what is one of the largest naval battles in history, during the last decade of the ailing, Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty.

In a coronation ceremony, Zhu Yuanzhang ascends to the throne of China as the Hongwu Emperor, initiating Ming Dynasty rule over China that would last for three centuries.

Zhu Di, better known by his era name as the Yongle Emperor, assumes the throne over the Ming Dynasty of China.

The Ming Dynasty Chinese military general Cao Qin stages a coup against the Tianshun Emperor.

Seven Portuguese armed vessels led by Fernão Pires de Andrade meet Chinese officials at the Pearl River estuary.

Beginning of Giovanni da Verrazzano's voyage to find a passage to China.

The deadliest earthquake in history, the Shaanxi earthquake, hits Shaanxi province, China. The death toll may have been as high as 830,000.

The Chinese general Koxinga seizes the island of Taiwan after a nine-month siege.

A landslide dam on the Dadu River created by an earthquake ten days earlier collapses, killing 100,000 in the Sichuan province of China.

In Humen, China, Lin Tse-hsü destroys 1.2 million kg of opium confiscated from British merchants, providing Britain with a ''casus belli'' to open hostilities, resulting in the First Opium War.

The United Kingdom formally occupies Hong Kong, which China later formally cedes.

The Second Opium War between several western powers and China begins with the ''Arrow Incident'' on the Pearl River.

Second Opium War: France and the United Kingdom declare war on China.

In the Second Opium War, an Anglo-French force defeats Chinese troops at the Battle of Baliqiao.

Kwang-su becomes emperor of China.

China and Russia sign the Sino-Russian Ili Treaty.

Ziqiang Institute, today known as Wuhan University, is founded by Zhang Zhidong, governor of Hubei and Hunan Provinces in late Qing Dynasty of China after his memorial to the throne is approved by the Qing Government.

The First Sino-Japanese War erupts between Japan and China over Korea.

First Sino-Japanese War: Japan defeats China in the Battle of Pyongyang.

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtien province, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan.

Empress Dowager Cixi seizes power and ends the Hundred Days' Reform in China.

John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China

Empress Dowager Longyu of China orders all foreigners killed, including foreign diplomats and their families.

A joint European-Japanese-United States force (Eight-Nation Alliance) occupies Beijing, in a campaign to end the bloody Boxer Rebellion in China.