History of China in Timeline

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China

China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is located in East Asia. It is the second-most populous country globally, with over 1.4 billion people, which constitutes 17% of the world’s population. China shares land borders with fourteen countries and, covering 9.6 million square kilometers, it is the third-largest country by area. Administratively, it comprises 33 province-level divisions, including provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and special administrative regions. Beijing serves as its capital, while Shanghai is its largest city and financial hub.

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1901: Boxer Rebellion Weakens Dynasty

In 1901, the ill-fated anti-foreign Boxer Rebellion further weakened the Qing dynasty.

1905: Release of first Chinese film

In 1905, the first Chinese film, Dingjun Mountain, was released.

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1911: Xinhai Revolution

In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution ended the Qing dynasty in China.

January 1912: Establishment of the Republic of China

On January 1912, the Republic of China (ROC) was established, and Sun Yat-sen of the Kuomintang was proclaimed provisional president.

1912: Abdication of Puyi

In 1912, Puyi, the last Emperor of China, abdicated, marking the end of the Qing Dynasty.

1912: End of Qing Dynasty

In 1912, the Qing dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of China, came to an end.

1915: Yuan Shikai Proclaims Himself Emperor

In 1915, Yuan Shikai, who was the president, proclaimed himself Emperor of China.

1916: Re-establishment of the Republic

In 1916, after facing condemnation, Yuan Shikai was forced to re-establish the republic, the same year he died.

1927: Start of the Chinese Civil War

In 1927, the Chinese Civil War began as Kuomintang forces purged members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

1927: Kuomintang Suppresses CCP

In 1927, the Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-shek violently suppressed the CCP and other leftists in Shanghai, marking the beginning of the Chinese Civil War.

1931: Japan invades Manchuria

In 1931, Japan invaded and occupied Manchuria, marking a significant escalation of tensions in the region.

1932: China's first participation in the Olympic Games

China first participated in the Olympic Games in 1932.

1934: CCP Initiates the Long March

In 1934, CCP forces in Jiangxi were wiped out by the Nationalist government, leading the CCP to initiate the Long March and relocate to Yan'an in Shaanxi.

1937: Japan invades China

In 1937, Japan invaded other parts of China, initiating the Second Sino-Japanese War, which became a theater of World War II.

1937: Invasion by the Empire of Japan

In 1937, the Empire of Japan invaded China, which led to the formation of the Second United Front between the CCP and Kuomintang to resist the Japanese invasion.

1945: Surrender of Japan

In 1945, after the surrender of Japan, China emerged victorious but war-ravaged and financially drained.

1946: Resumption of Chinese Civil War

In 1946, fighting between CCP and KMT forces broke out, and the country resumed a state of civil war that lasted more than three years.

1947: Establishment of Constitutional Rule

In 1947, constitutional rule was established in China, but due to the ongoing war, many provisions of the ROC constitution were never implemented in mainland China.

October 1949: Proclamation of the People's Republic of China

On October 1949, CCP Chairman Mao Zedong formally proclaimed the People's Republic of China.

1949: Forest Coverage in China

According to China's government, the forest coverage of the country grew from 10% of the overall territory in 1949 to 25% in 2024.

1949: Communists Came to Power in 1949

After the Communists came to power in 1949, efforts were made to organize science and technology based on the model of the Soviet Union, in which scientific research was part of central planning.

1949: Adoption of China Standard Time

In 1949, China adopted a single national time zone, China Standard Time (UTC+8).

1949: Literacy Rate

In 1949, China's literacy rate was only 20%.

1949: End of Major Combat in Chinese Civil War

In 1949, major combat in the Chinese Civil War ended, leading to a new political landscape.

1949: CCP Proclaims People's Republic of China

In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) proclaimed the People's Republic of China and forced the Kuomintang-led government to retreat to Taiwan.

1949: Unitary Communist State

Since 1949, China has been a unitary communist state with the CCP as its sole ruling party.

1949: China's Per Capita Income in 1949

When the PRC was founded in 1949, per capita income in China was one-fifth of the world average.

1950: PRC Captures Hainan and Annexes Tibet

In 1950, the PRC captured Hainan from the ROC and annexed Tibet, expanding its territorial control.

1952: China participated as the PRC in the Olympic Games

In 1952, China participated as the PRC in the Olympic Games.

1953: Sex Ratio

In 1953, males accounted for 51.8% of the population.

1958: Discovery of Erlitou Culture Sites

In 1958, archaeologists discovered sites belonging to the Erlitou culture, which existed during the early Bronze Age.

1958: Space Program Started in 1958

The Chinese space program started in 1958 with some technology transfers from the Soviet Union.

1959: Start of the Great Leap Forward Famine

In 1959, the Great Leap Forward, a massive industrialization project, began and resulted in an estimated 15 to 55 million deaths between 1959 and 1961, mostly from starvation.

1961: End of the Great Leap Forward Famine

In 1961, the Great Leap Forward ended, estimated to have caused between 15 to 55 million deaths mostly from starvation during the years 1959 and 1961.

1961: Population Decline

The population of China fell in 1961, before the decline from 2021 to 2022.

1964: China detonates its first atomic bomb

In 1964, China detonated its first atomic bomb, marking its entry into the nuclear age.

1966: Launch of the Cultural Revolution

In 1966, Mao and his allies launched the Cultural Revolution, sparking a decade of political recrimination and social upheaval.

1970: First Satellite Launched in 1970

China launched the nation's first satellite in 1970 with the Dong Fang Hong I, which made China the fifth country to do so independently.

1971: Recognition switch to PRC in the UN

Most countries have switched recognition from the ROC to the PRC since the latter replaced the former in the UN in 1971.

1974: Chinese Population Growth

In 1974, The Chinese population increased from 550 million in 1950 to 900 million.

1976: Mao's Death in 1976

After Mao's death in 1976, science and technology were promoted as one of the Four Modernizations, and the Soviet-inspired academic system was gradually reformed.

1976: Death of Mao Zedong

In 1976, Mao Zedong died, marking the end of the Cultural Revolution.

1976: End of the Cultural Revolution

In 1976, the Cultural Revolution ended, which was followed by a rise in Chinese nationalism and a revival of traditional Chinese arts and culture.

1978: Economic Reforms

After Deng Xiaoping began instituting economic reforms in 1978, the health of the Chinese public improved rapidly.

1978: Poverty Reduction in China Since 1978

Between 1978 and 2018, China reduced extreme poverty by 800 million, with the average standard of living multiplying by a factor of twenty-six.

1978: Reform and Opening Up

In 1978, China began the reform and opening up, moving the country away from a planned economy towards a market-based economy.

1978: Deng Xiaoping Takes Power

In 1978, Deng Xiaoping took power and started the reform and opening up, instituting large-scale political and economic reforms.

1978: Economic Reforms Began in 1978

Since economic reforms began in 1978, China has developed into a highly diversified economy and one of the most consequential players in international trade.

1978: Introduction of Reform and Opening Up Policy in 1978

Since the introduction of the reform and opening up policy in 1978, China's economic growth has been almost consistently above 5 percent. According to the World Bank, China's GDP grew from $150 billion in 1978.

1979: One-Child Policy Advocacy

In 1979, China began to advocate for a strict limit of one child per family.

1979: Literacy Rate

In 1979, China's literacy rate was 65.5%.

1980: Urbanization Rate

In 1980, the percent of China's population living in urban areas was 20%.

December 1982: Adoption of the Current Constitution

On December 1982, China adopted its current constitution.

1989: Tiananmen Square Protests

In 1989, a movement for political liberalization in China stalled after the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.

1990: Poverty Reduction Stats in 1990

From 1990 to 2018, the proportion of the Chinese population living with an income of less than $1.90 per day (2011 PPP) decreased from 66.3% to 0.3%, the share living with an income of less than $3.20 per day from 90.0% to 2.9%, and the share living with an income of less than $5.50 per day decreased from 98.3% to 17.0%.

1990: China hosted the Asian Games in Beijing

In 1990, China hosted the Asian Games in Beijing.

1990: Air Travel Passengers

In 1990, China's air travel industry saw 16.6 million passengers.

1990: Rates of Stunting

In 1990, Rates of stunting was 33.1%.

1997: Return of Hong Kong to China

In 1997, British Hong Kong returned to China as a special administrative region.

1999: Return of Macau to China

In 1999, Portuguese Macau returned to China as a special administrative region.

2000: Rapid Transit Growth

Since 2000, rapid transit systems in Chinese cities have experienced accelerated growth.

2001: WTO Membership in 2001

China has been a member of the World Trade Organization since 2001.

2002: Hu Jintao Succeeded Jiang

In 2002, Hu Jintao succeeded Jiang as the general secretary.

2003: Harvard University Survey on citizen satisfaction with the government

A Harvard University survey published in July 2020 found that citizen satisfaction with the government had increased since 2003, also rating China's government as more effective and capable than ever in the survey's history.

2003: First Human Spaceflight in 2003

In 2003, China became the third country in the world to independently send humans into space with Yang Liwei's spaceflight aboard Shenzhou 5.

2003: SARS Outbreak

In 2003, China experienced a serious disease outbreak, SARS, although this has since been largely contained.

2003: Education Investment

In 2003, China's annual education investment was less than US$50 billion.

December 2006: Baiji confirmed extinct

On December 12, 2006, the Baiji was confirmed extinct.

June 2008: Laogai Research Foundation Estimate

The Laogai Research Foundation estimated in June 2008 that there were nearly 1,422 reform through labor (laogai) facilities.

2008: China hosted the Summer Olympics in Beijing

China hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and its athletes received the highest number of gold medals, with 48.

2009: Healthcare Provision Initiative

In 2009, the Chinese government began a three-year large-scale healthcare provision initiative worth US$124 billion.

2010: Population Growth

Between 2010 and 2020, the average population growth rate in China was 0.53%.

2010: Manufacturing Nation since 2010

China has been the world's largest manufacturing nation since 2010, after overtaking the U.S.

2010: China hosted the Asian Games in Guangzhou

In 2010, China hosted the Asian Games in Guangzhou.

2010: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

In 2010, China's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was received by the Convention on Biological Diversity.

2010: Education Expenditure Inequality

In 2010, there was an inequality in education spending. The annual education expenditure per secondary school student in Beijing totalled ¥20,023, while in Guizhou, one of the poorest provinces, it only totalled ¥3,204.

2010: Harvard University's Economic Complexity Index in 2010

In 2023, Harvard University's Economic Complexity Index ranked complexity of China's exports 16th in the world, up from 24th in 2010.

2011: Health Insurance Coverage

By 2011, the healthcare provision initiative resulted in 95% of China's population having basic health insurance coverage.

2011: Income Measurement in 2011 PPP

From 1990 to 2018, the proportion of the Chinese population living with an income of less than $1.90 per day (2011 PPP) decreased from 66.3% to 0.3%.

2011: First Space Station Testbed Launched in 2011

In 2011, China launched its first space station testbed, Tiangong-1.

2011: Shenzhen hosted the Summer Universiade

In 2011, Shenzhen hosted the Summer Universiade.

November 2012: Xi Jinping took office

On November 15, 2012, Xi Jinping took office as the general secretary.

2012: Estimate of 470 million bicycles in China

As of 2012, there were an estimated 470 million bicycles in China.

2012: BeiDou Navigation Services in 2012

China's BeiDou satellite navigation system began offering commercial navigation services across Asia in 2012.

2012: China won the most medals at the Summer Paralympics

In 2012, China won the most medals at the Summer Paralympics, with 231 overall, including 95 gold.

2012: Mo Yan awarded Nobel Prize in Literature

In 2012, Mo Yan, a xungen literature author, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

2012: Xi Jinping Became Paramount Leader

In 2012, Xi Jinping succeeded Hu as paramount leader in China.

December 2013: Loosening of One-Child Policy

In December 2013, China allowed families to have two children if one parent was an only child.

2013: Largest Trading Nation in 2013

China became the world's largest trading nation in 2013 by the sum of imports and exports.

2013: China hosted the East Asian Games in Tianjin

China hosted the 2013 East Asian Games in Tianjin.

2013: Initiation of the Belt and Road Initiative

In 2013, China initiated the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a large global infrastructure building initiative.

2013: Lunar Rover Landing in 2013

In 2013, a Chinese robotic rover Yutu successfully touched down on the lunar surface as part of the Chang'e 3 mission.

2013: Abolishment of re-education through labor system

In 2013, the state-imposed re-education through labor (laojiao) system was formally abolished.

2013: Global Innovation Index Rank in 2013

In 2025, China was ranked 10th in the Global Innovation Index, a considerable improvement from its rank of 35th in 2013.

2014: China hosted the Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing

In 2014, China hosted the Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, becoming the first country to host both regular and Youth Olympics.

2015: Rural Sanitation Access

According to the Joint Monitoring Program, 77% of rural households in China had access to basic sanitation in 2015.

2015: World's Largest Middle-Class Population in 2015

China has had the world's largest middle-class population since 2015.

2015: "1.5"-Child Policy

From the mid-1980s to 2015, China had a "1.5"-child policy with some major exemptions.

2016: Largest Trading Partner in 2016

By 2016, China was the largest trading partner of 124 countries.

2016: China with largest number of movie screens

In 2016, China had the largest number of movie screens in the world.

2016: Scientific Papers Published in 2016

In 2016, China's academic publication apparatus became the world's largest publisher of scientific papers.

2016: Two-Child Policy

In 2016, China's one-child policy was replaced in favor of a two-child policy.

2016: Modern Slavery Index

The Global Slavery Index estimated that in 2016 more than 3.8 million people (0.25% of the population) were living in "conditions of modern slavery".

2017: Pharmaceutical Ingredients

By 2017, China produced around 40 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

2017: Restrictions on religion

In 2017 and 2020, the Pew Research Center ranked the severity of Chinese government restrictions on religion as being among the world's highest.

2017: Air Travel Passengers

In 2017, China's air travel industry saw 551.2 million passengers.

2017: Release of Wolf Warrior 2

In 2017, Wolf Warrior 2 was released.

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2017: Crackdown in Xinjiang

Since 2017, the Chinese government has been engaged in a harsh crackdown in Xinjiang, with around one million Uyghurs and other ethnic and religion minorities being detained in internment camps.

2018: Patent Applications in 2018

According to the World Intellectual Property Indicators, China received more patent applications than the U.S. did in 2018.

2018: Poverty Reduction Stats in 2018

Between 1978 and 2018, China reduced extreme poverty by 800 million, with the average standard of living multiplying by a factor of twenty-six.

2018: 4G Users in 2018

By 2018, China had more than 1 billion 4G users, accounting for 40% of world's total.

2018: Airline Market Share

In 2018, Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines collectively made up 71% of the airline market in China.

2018: Most Visited Country in 2018

In 2018, China was the fourth-most-visited country in the world.

December 2019: COVID-19 Pandemic

In December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic was first identified in Wuhan.

2019: Patent Applications in 2019

According to the World Intellectual Property Indicators, China received more applications than the U.S. did in 2019 and ranked first globally in patents.

2019: Nature Reserves in China

As of 2019, the country has over 2,750 nature reserves, covering a total area of 1,470,000 km (570,000 sq mi), 15 percent of China's total land area.

2019: Probe Landing on Far Side of Moon in 2019

In 2019, China became the first country to land a probe—Chang'e 4—on the far side of the Moon.

2019: China Overtakes the U.S. in Wealth in 2019

In 2019, China overtook the U.S. as the home to the highest number of people who have a net personal wealth of at least $110,000, according to Credit Suisse.

2019: International and Domestic Tourism in 2019

In 2019, China received 65.7 million international visitors and Chinese tourists made an estimated 6 billion travels within the country.

April 2020: Expansion of Belt and Road Initiative

As of April 2020, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) included 138 countries and 30 international organizations.

July 2020: Harvard University Survey

A Harvard University survey published in July 2020 found that citizen satisfaction with the government had increased since 2003, also rating China's government as more effective and capable than ever in the survey's history.

October 2020: Stock Exchanges in October 2020

As of October 2020, China has three out of the ten largest stock exchanges in the world.

2020: Ethnic Minorities

According to the 2020 census, ethnic minorities account for less than 10% of the population of China.

2020: Longest Metro Systems

As of 2020, China had the five longest metro systems in the world located in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenzhen.

2020: Restrictions on religion

In 2017 and 2020, the Pew Research Center ranked the severity of Chinese government restrictions on religion as being among the world's highest.

2020: Moon Samples Returned to Earth in 2020

In 2020, Chang'e 5 successfully returned Moon samples to the Earth, making China the third country to do so independently.

2020: China became largest cinema market

In 2020, China became the largest cinema market, with domestic movies dominating the market.

2020: Education Investment

In 2020, China's annual education investment was more than US$817 billion. Also the literacy rate was 97% of the population over age 15.

2020: China's carbon neutrality target announced

In 2020, the Chinese government announced its aims for the country to reach its peak emissions levels before 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

2020: Chinese Census

The 2020 Chinese census recorded the population as approximately 1,411,778,724.

2020: National Security Law in Hong Kong

The Chinese authorities have cracked down on dissent in Hong Kong, especially after the passage of a national security law in 2020.

2020: Urban Populations

The figures in the table below are from the 2020 census, and are only estimates of the urban populations within administrative city limits.

January 2021: Female Billionaires in January 2021

China had 85 female billionaires as of January 2021, which was two-thirds of the global total.

May 2021: Three-Child Policy Announcement

In May 2021, a three-child policy was announced in China due to population aging.

July 2021: Family Size Limit Removal

In July 2021, all family size limits and penalties for exceeding them were removed in China.

2021: Urbanization Rate Peak

According to the United Nations, China's urbanization rate peaked in absolute numbers in 2021 at 83.7 percent.

2021: Patents, Trademarks and Exports in 2021

China ranked first globally in patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, and creative goods exports in 2021.

2021: Population Decline

From 2021 to 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics estimated that the population in China fell by 850,000.

2021: Agricultural Land in China

In 2021, 12 percent of global permanent meadows and pastures belonged to China, as well as 8% of global cropland.

2021: Spacecraft Landing on Mars in 2021

In 2021, China became the third country to land a spacecraft on Mars and the second one to deploy a rover (Zhurong) on Mars.

2021: E-commerce in 2021

In 2021, China leads the world in e-commerce, accounting for over 37% of the global market share.

2021: Release of The Battle at Lake Changjin

In 2021, The Battle at Lake Changjin was released.

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November 2022: Tiangong Completion and In-Orbit Crew Handover in November 2022

China completed its own modular space station, the Tiangong, in low Earth orbit on 3 November 2022. On 29 November 2022, China performed its first in-orbit crew handover aboard the Tiangong.

December 2022: End of Zero-COVID Policy

In December 2022, China abandoned its zero-COVID policy following protests.

2022: Rural Sanitation Access

According to the Joint Monitoring Program, 93% of rural households in China had access to basic sanitation in 2022.

2022: World Values Survey

According to the World Values Survey (2022), 91% of Chinese respondents have significant confidence in their government.

2022: China's Economy in 2022

As of 2022, China accounts for around 18% of the global economy by nominal GDP.

2022: Pharmaceutical Producer

By 2022, China had established itself as a key producer and exporter of pharmaceuticals.

2022: Beijing hosted the Winter Olympics

In 2022, Beijing and Zhangjiakou collaboratively hosted the Winter Olympics, making Beijing the first dual Olympic city by holding both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

2022: Investment in Renewable Energy

In 2022, China invested $546 billion in renewable energy and its commercialization and was the largest importer of Russian crude oil next to India.

2022: Foreign Direct Investment in 2022

In 2022, China was amongst the world's largest recipient of inward foreign direct investment (FDI), attracting $180 billion.

2022: Anti-Corruption Crackdown

In 2022, during Xi Jinping's tenure, the anti-corruption crackdown prosecuted more than 2 million officials.

2022: Deaths Outpace Births

Since 2022, deaths have outpaced births in China.

February 2023: Cellphone Subscribers in February 2023

As of February 2023, China has over 1.7 billion cellphone subscribers.

May 2023: Plan to Land Humans on the Moon Announced in May 2023

In May 2023, China announced a plan to land humans on the Moon by 2030.

December 2023: Urban Mass Transit Systems

As of December 2023, 55 Chinese cities had urban mass transit systems in operation.

December 2023: 5G Users in December 2023

As of December 2023, China had over 810 million 5G users and 3.38 million base stations installed.

2023: Permanent Residence

As of 2023, China granted permanent residence to around 12,000 foreigners.

2023: Chinese Nationals in Space in 2023

As of 2023, eighteen Chinese nationals have journeyed into space, including two women.

2023: Infant Mortality Rate

As of 2023, the infant mortality rate in China is 5 per thousand.

2023: Renminbi Status in 2023

As of 2023, the renminbi is the world's fourth-most traded currency.

2023: Outward FDI in 2023

China invested abroad, with a total outward FDI of $147.9 billion in 2023.

2023: Gini Coefficient in 2023

China's Gini coefficient was 0.37 in 2023.

2023: China hosted the Asian Games in Hangzhou

In 2023, China hosted the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

2023: Religious Affiliation Survey

In 2023, according to surveys done by Pew Research, 93% of respondents were formally unaffiliated with any religion.

March 2024: Foreign Exchange Reserves in March 2024

China's foreign exchange reserves reached US$3.246 trillion as of March 2024.

May 2024: Chang'e 6 Mission in May 2024

China sent Chang'e 6 on 3 May 2024, which conducted the first lunar sample return from Apollo Basin on the far side of the Moon. It also carried a Chinese rover called Jinchan to conduct infrared spectroscopy of lunar surface and imaged Chang'e 6 lander on lunar surface.

2024: Forest Coverage in China

According to China's government, the forest coverage of the country grew from 10% of the overall territory in 1949 to 25% in 2024.

2024: China's GDP in 2024

According to the World Bank, China's GDP grew from $150 billion in 1978 to $18.74 trillion by 2024.

2024: Megacities

As of 2024 China had 18 megacities, cities with a population of over 10 million.

2024: Number of Universities

As of 2024, China had over 3,167 universities, with over 47.6 million students enrolled.

2024: Diplomatic Networks of China

As of 2024, China has the largest diplomatic networks of any country in the world.

2024: Education System Size

As of 2024, China has the largest education system in the world, with about 287 million students and 18.85 million full-time teachers in over 470,300 schools.

2024: Life Expectancy

As of 2024, the life expectancy at birth in China exceeds 79 years, and the rate of stunting has declined from 33.1% in 1990 to 4.5%.

2024: Financial Centers in 2024

China has three out of the world's ten most competitive financial centers according to the 2024 Global Financial Centres Index.

2024: Largest Exporter of Cars in 2024

China is the world's largest exporter of cars by number as of 2024.

2024: Middle Class Population in 2024

China's middle-class grew to 500 million by 2024.

2024: Chinese military budget

China's official military budget for 2024 totalled US$229 billion (1.67 trillion Yuan), the second-largest in the world.

2024: Electricity Sources in China

In 2024, 58.2% of China's electricity came from coal, 13.5% from hydroelectric power, 9.8% from wind, 8.3% from solar energy, 4.4% from nuclear energy, 3% from natural gas, and 2.1% from bioenergy; in total, 38% of China's energy came from clean energy sources.

2024: Water quality suitable for human consumption

In 2024, 90.4% of China's national surface water was graded suitable for human consumption by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

2024: Democracy Index Ranking

In 2024, China was ranked at 145th out of 167 countries as an "authoritarian regime" by the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index.

2024: Continuation to senior secondary school

In 2024, about 92.0 percent of students continued their education at a three-year senior secondary school, while 60.8 percent of secondary school graduates were enrolled in higher education.

March 2025: Billionaires and Millionaires in March 2025

In March 2025, Forbes estimated China ranked second in the world, after the U.S., in total number of billionaires, with 516 Chinese billionaires.

December 2025: Internet Users in December 2025

As of December 2025, China has over 1.125 billion Internet users, which is equivalent to around 80.1% of its population.

2025: Private Businesses Recorded in 2025

Around 57 million private businesses were recorded in China in 2025, contributing to over 60% of China's GDP.

2025: Railway Expansion

As of 2025, China had 165,000 km of railways, the second-longest network in the world, and 50,400 kilometers of high-speed rail lines, the longest HSR network globally.

2025: Top Universities

As of 2025, China had the world's highest number of top universities.

2025: Ne Zha 2 becomes highest-grossing film in China

As of 2025, Ne Zha 2 (2025) was the highest-grossing film in China, and in the same year, China's video game market was the world's largest by revenue.

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2025: Global Innovation Index in 2025

China was ranked 10th in the Global Innovation Index in 2025, a considerable improvement from its rank of 35th in 2013.

2025: Urbanization Rate

In 2025, the percent of China's population living in urban areas was over 68%.

2030: Target for peak emissions levels

In 2020, the Chinese government announced its aims for the country to reach its peak emissions levels before 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

2030: Target Year for Moon Landing by 2030

In May 2023, China announced a plan to land humans on the Moon by 2030.

2045: Phase out coal electricity generation

According to academics, in 2045, to limit climate change in China to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F), electricity generation from coal in China without carbon capture must be phased out.

2060: Target for carbon neutrality

In 2020, the Chinese government announced its aims for the country to reach its peak emissions levels before 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.