History of Shandong in Timeline

Shandong, a coastal province in East China, is significant for its pivotal role in shaping Chinese civilization and culture. It's a major cultural and religious center for Taoism, Chinese Buddhism, and Confucianism. Mount Tai, Shandong's most revered mountain, is a key Taoist site with a long history of religious worship. Buddhist temples south of Jinan were once prominent Buddhist centers. Qufu, Confucius' birthplace, became the heart of Confucianism.

1900: Yueshi culture

Around 1900 BC, the Yueshi culture began.

1903: Jinan Bulletin founded by Governor of Shandong Zhou Fu

In 1903, Jinan Bulletin (濟南匯報) was founded by Governor of Shandong Zhou Fu.

1903: Hetan Games in Yantai

In 1903, the Hetan Games (阖滩运动会) in Yantai was one of the most prominent early modern athletic competitions in China.

1904: Jiaozhou–Jinan Railway completed

The Jiaozhou–Jinan Railway, constructed by Germans, was completed in 1904, connecting Jinan with the port of Qingdao. This railway is still the most important east–west main line across Shandong Province.

August 1910: Establishment of the Office of the Judicial Commissioner

In August 1910, Shandong province established the Office of the Judicial Commissioner (提法使司), marking a step towards modernizing the judicial system.

January 1911: Establishment of Provincial High Court and Prosecutor's Office

In January 1911, the Shandong Provincial High Court and the High Prosecutor's Office were established, along with local courts and prosecutor's offices in Jinan and Yantai.

1912: Shandong Retains Qing Administrative System in 1912

After the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, Shandong Province initially retained the Qing administrative system.

1913: Abolishment of Prefectures and Sub-Prefectures in 1913

In 1913, the Beijing government abolished the prefectures and sub-prefectures in Shandong, instituting the dao–county system.

1919: Treaty of Versailles and the Shandong Problem

In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles transferred German holdings in Qingdao and Shandong to Japan, rather than restoring Chinese sovereignty. This outcome, known as the Shandong Problem, triggered vehement student protests in the May Fourth Movement.

1922: Shandong Reverts to Chinese Control

In 1922, Shandong reverted to Chinese control after mediation by the United States during the Washington Naval Conference, resolving the Shandong Problem.

1924: Fengtian Clique Took Over

After the Second Zhili–Fengtian War of 1924, the northeast China-based Fengtian clique took over Shandong.

April 1925: Zhang Zongchang Appointed Governor

In April 1925, the Fengtian clique installed Zhang Zongchang, known as the "Dogmeat General", as the military governor of Shandong Province.

1927: Abolishment of Dao Level in 1927

In 1927, the Nanjing government abolished the dao level in Shandong, placing counties directly under provincial jurisdiction.

1928: Zhang Zongchang Ousted

In 1928, Zhang Zongchang was ousted in the wake of the Northern Expedition and was succeeded by Han Fuju.

1930: Weihai Under Chinese Control

In 1930, Weihai was reverted to Chinese control.

1932: Establishment of Administrative Inspectorates in 1932

In 1932, administrative inspectorates were established below the provincial level in Shandong, functioning as provincial extensions. This marked the formal establishment of administrative inspectorate districts.

May 1933: First wireless broadcasting station established in Jinan

In May 1933, the first wireless broadcasting station was established in Jinan and named the Shandong Provincial Capital Broadcasting Station.

1937: Japan Invades China; Han Fuju Executed

In 1937, Japan began its invasion of China, and Han Fuju, in charge of defending the lower Yellow River valley, abandoned his base. As result, about 600,000 Ethnic Chinese civilians fled out of Jinan city and he was executed for not following orders.

1941: Subdivisions of Prefecture-Level Cities

The 16 prefecture-level cities of Shandong are subdivided into 137 county-level divisions (55 districts, 26 county-level cities, and 56 counties). Those are in turn divided into 1941 township-level divisions (1223 towns, 293 townships, two ethnic townships, and 423 subdistricts).

1945: Communist Forces in Shandong

By 1945, during the Japanese occupation, communist Chinese Red Army forces held parts of Shandong, especially Muslim peasant villages.

May 1947: Menglianggu Campaign

In May 1947, during the Menglianggu Campaign in central Shandong, the Chinese Communist East China Field Army annihilated the Nationalist 74th Corp.

1948: Communist Forces Capture Weixian

In 1948, Communist forces captured Weixian, known as the "fortress of central Shandong," during the Battle of Weixian.

February 1949: Establishment of Shandong Military Region

In February 1949, the Shandong Military Region was established.

June 1949: People's Liberation Army Enters Qingdao

On June 2, 1949, after the withdrawal of the Nationalist Army and U.S. forces, the People's Liberation Army entered Qingdao, incorporating it into Shandong's jurisdiction.

1949: Population of Shandong Reaches 45 Million in 1949

By 1949, the population of Shandong grew steadily, reaching 45 million.

1949: Christian Population in Shandong in 1949

In 1949, Christians were 1.89% of the province's population, the largest proportion in China at that time.

October 1950: Shandong People's Radio Station officially begins broadcasting

On 27 October 1950, the Shandong People's Radio Station officially began broadcasting to the entire province.

1950: Abolishment of Administrative Regions in 1950

In 1950, three administrative regions were abolished in Shandong, reducing 16 prefectures to 11.

1952: Dissolution of Pingyuan Province in 1952

In 1952, Pingyuan Province was dissolved, and its eastern part was incorporated into Shandong. Five counties from Hebei Province were transferred to Shandong, while some counties under Shandong's jurisdiction were reassigned to Hebei and Jiangsu.

October 1953: Shandong Provincial Sports Committee established

In October 1953, the province established the Shandong Provincial Sports Committee.

August 1954: Establishment of the Shandong Provincial People's Congress

On August 17, 1954, the Shandong Provincial People's Congress was established as the organ of state power in Shandong Province.

1954: First Destroyer Unit Founded in Qingdao

The PLA Navy's first destroyer unit was founded in Qingdao in 1954.

1955: Counties and cities begin establishing cable broadcasting stations

By 1955, some counties and cities began to establish cable broadcasting stations.

1955: Reorganization into Jinan Military Region

In 1955, the Shandong Military Region was reorganized into the Jinan Military Region.

1959: Great Chinese Famine

During the Great Chinese Famine of 1959, Shandong suffered heavily, with about six million people starving to death.

October 1961: Establishment of Shandong Provincial Military District

In October 1961, based on the Mobilization Department of the Jinan Military Region, the Shandong Provincial Military District was established, and the militia system was widely implemented across the province.

August 1966: Qingdao Incident

On August 25, 1966, the "Qingdao Incident" marked the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in Shandong Province, with a confrontation between cadres, workers, and students.

1966: Institutions of higher education cease enrollment

In 1966, all institutions of higher education in Shandong ceased enrollment for five years due to the Cultural Revolution, which severely disrupted educational order.

1967: Renaming of Prefectures to Regions in 1967

In 1967, prefectures (专区) were renamed regions (地区) in Shandong, and the province then had 9 regions including Dezhou, Huimin, and Changwei, as well as four provincial cities: Jinan, Qingdao, Zibo, and Zaozhuang.

1976: Death of Mao

Mao died in 1976, marking the end of restless political movement in China, that led to reform and opening up.

1976: Restoration of higher education begins

Restoration of higher education institutions in Shandong did not begin until after 1976, following the disruption caused by the Cultural Revolution.

October 1979: Qingdao and Shimonoseki establish sister city relationship

In October 1979, Qingdao and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, established the first pair of sister cities in Shandong Province.

October 1984: Approval of Qingdao Economic and Technical Development Zone in October 1984

In October 1984, the State Council approved the Qingdao Economic and Technical Development Zone, with a plan of 12.5 square kilometers.

1985: Reserve Troops in Shandong

By 1985, Shandong had approximately 1.6 million first-class reserve troops and about 6.4 million second-class reserve troops.

1986: Township and Village Enterprises Surpass Agriculture

By 1986, the total output value of township and village enterprises across Shandong surpassed that of agriculture for the first time.

1988: Shandong's Population Reaches Over 80 Million in 1988

By 1988, Shandong's population reached over 80 million following rapid growth in the 1950s and 1960s, and family planning policies in the 1970s and 1980s.

1990: Number of newspapers reaches 119

By the end of 1990, the number of officially registered and approved newspapers in Shandong had reached 119.

1990: Province has 16 wireless radio stations and 34 television stations

By the end of 1990, the province had 16 wireless radio stations and 34 television stations.

March 1991: Approval of Weihai Torch Hi-Tech Science Park in March 1991

In March 1991, the Weihai Torch Hi-Tech Science Park was approved by the State Council as a state-level development zone, located in Weihai.

1991: Founding of the Jinan High-tech Industrial Development Zone in 1991

In 1991, the Jinan High-tech Industrial Development zone was founded and approved by the State Council. The zone is located to the east of the city and covers a total planning area of 83 square kilometers.

Oct 1992: Approval of Weihai Economic and Technological Development Zone in October 1992

In October 1992, the Weihai Economic and Technological Development Zone was approved by the State Council as a state-level development zone.

1992: Approval of Qingdao High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in 1992

In 1992, the State Council approved the Qingdao High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, located close to Qingdao Liuting Airport and Qingdao Harbor. Encouraged industries include electronic information, biotechnology, medicine, new materials, new energy, advanced equipment manufacturing, marine science & technology, and national defense technology.

1992: Establishment of Qingdao Free Trade Zone in 1992

In 1992, the State Council established the Qingdao Free Trade Zone, located 60 km from Qingdao Liuting Airport.

1994: Shandong Airlines founded

Shandong Airlines was founded in 1994.

August 1995: Establishment of Weifang Binhai Economic & Technological Development Area in August 1995

In August 1995, the Weifang Binhai Economic & Technological Development Area (BEDA) was established as a national economic and technological development area approved by the State Council.

1996: Full Electrification of Households

In 1996, Shandong became the first province in China to achieve full electrification of all households.

1996: Discovery of Buddhist Statues at Qingzhou

In 1996, over two hundred buried Buddhist statues were discovered at Qingzhou. These statues included early examples of painted figures and are believed to have been buried due to Emperor Huizong's repression of Buddhism.

1999: Zhanhua County Declared Poverty-Free

In 1999, Zhanhua County, Shandong's last officially designated impoverished county, was declared poverty-free.

April 2000: Establishment of Weihai Export & Processing Zone in April 2000

In April 2000, the Weihai Export & Processing Zone (EPZ) was set up with the approval of the State Council. It is located in Weihai Economic & Technological Development Zone.

2000: Yueshi culture

Around 2000 BC, the Longshan culture ended, and the Yueshi culture began.

2000: Ni Ping shifts career to film and television and wins Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress

In 2000, Ni Ping shifted her career to film and television and won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress for Pretty Big Feet.

2000: Jinan High-tech Zone Joins World Science Association in 2000

In 2000, the Jinan High-tech Industrial Development Zone joined the world science and technology association and set up a China-Ukraine High-tech Cooperation Park. The Qilu Software Park became the sister park of Bangalore park of India.

2000: Average Life Expectancy in Shandong in 2000

In 2000, the average life expectancy in Shandong was 73.42 years.

2002: Penglai Shahekou Airport completed

Penglai Shahekou Airport, which was completed and opened to air traffic in 2002, is primarily used for test flights, training, and tourism.

2004: Christian Population in Shandong in 2004

In 2004, 1.30% of Shandong's population identified as Christian.

2004: Shandong Leads in Industrial Strength

In 2004, Shandong overtook Guangdong in both industrial output and profits, becoming China's top province in industrial strength for the first time.

2004: GDP and Industrial Output Value Growth in Qingdao Development Zone in 2004

In 2004, the local GDP of Qingdao Economic and Technical Development Zone was ¥27.51 billion, increased by 28.9%; the total industrial output value was ¥60.6 billion, increased by 31%.

2007: Religious Beliefs in Shandong in 2007

According to surveys conducted in 2007, 25.28% of Shandong's population believed in ancestor veneration.

September 2008: Qingdao Hosts Sailing Competitions

In September 2008, Qingdao hosted the sailing competitions of the 29th Summer Olympic Games and the 13th Summer Paralympic Games as a partner city of Beijing.

2008: Direct flights between Shandong and Taiwan launched

Direct flights between Shandong and Taiwan were launched in 2008. Currently, four cities have cross-strait direct flights.

2008: Jinan Railway Bureau reorganization

Following its 2008 reorganization, the Jinan Railway Bureau manages the majority of Shandong's trunk and branch railway networks, as well as the Bohai Train Ferry.

2008: Dinosaur Fossil Discovery in Zhucheng

In 2008, approximately 7,600 dinosaur bones from various genera, including Tyrannosaurus and Ankylosaurus, were discovered in Zhucheng, Shandong, potentially representing the largest collection ever found at one location.

2008: Qingdao–Jinan passenger railway operated

In 2008, the first high-speed railroad, Qingdao–Jinan passenger railway, operated with maximum speed of 250 km.

2008: Qingdao co-hosts Summer Olympics sailing events

Qingdao served as a co-host city for the 2008 Summer Olympics sailing events.

2009: Religious Beliefs in Shandong in 2009

According to surveys conducted in 2009, 1.21% of Shandong's population identified as Christian.

2009: Shandong marine science research capacity

As of the end of 2009, the province had nearly 60 national and provincial-level institutions engaged in marine science and education.

2009: Huang Bo won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actor for Cow

In 2009, Huang Bo won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actor for his role in Cow.

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2009: Jinan Hosts National Games

In 2009, Jinan hosted the 11th National Games of the People's Republic of China.

2009: Laizhou Recognized as a 'Longevity Town of China' in 2009

In 2009, Laizhou was recognized by the China Gerontological Society as a "Longevity Town of China".

2009: Shandong hosts 11th National Games of China

In 2009, Shandong hosted the 11th National Games of China, ranking first nationwide in terms of gold medals, total medals, and overall points.

July 2010: Sino-German Ecopark Agreement

On July 16, 2010, German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited China, and both sides agreed to support the establishment of the Sino-German Ecopark within the Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone.

2010: Muslim Population in Shandong in 2010

According to a survey of the year 2010, Muslims constitute 0.55% of Shandong's population, up from 0.14% in 1949.

2010: Education Levels in Shandong in 2010

According to the 2010 national census, 8.3287 million people in Shandong had attained a university level of education, 13.3226 million had a high school education, 38.4682 million had a junior high school education, and 23.9124 million had a primary school education. The illiterate population was 4.7573 million.

2010: Shandong's Population in 2010

According to the 2010 national census, the permanent population of Shandong was 95.7931 million.

2010: Average Height in Yantai in 2010

As of 2010, 16-18-year-old male students in Yantai measured 176.4 centimetres (5 ft 9.4 in) while female students measured 164 cm (5 ft 5 in).

2010: Average Life Expectancy in Shandong in 2010

In 2010, the average life expectancy in Shandong was 76.46 years.

2011: Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone

In 2011, the development plan for the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone was officially approved.

2012: Mo Yan wins Nobel Prize in Literature

In 2012, Mo Yan won the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first Chinese national to receive this honor.

2012: Service Sector's Contribution to GDP in 2012

In 2012, the value-added of the service sector accounted for 40% of Shandong's GDP. The value-added of the financial sector reached ¥201.9 billion; the real estate sector contributed ¥201.6 billion; total revenue from tourism was ¥451.97 billion; and software business revenue from large-scale software enterprises amounted to ¥173.79 billion.

2012: Border Defense Construction

Since 2012, Shandong's border defense has advanced the construction of an integrated land-sea control system, achieving notable results.

2013: Top 10 Geographical Indication Trademarks of Shandong Awarded in 2013

In 2013, several agricultural products were awarded the title of "Top 10 Geographical Indication Trademarks of Shandong", including Zhanhua winter jujubes, Zhangqiu scallions, Rizhao green tea, Yantai apples, Jinxiang garlic, Rongcheng kelp, Pingyi honeysuckle, Jiaozhou cabbage, and Feicheng peaches.

June 2014: Qingdao West Coast New Area Established

On June 3, 2014, the State Council formally approved the establishment of the national-level Qingdao West Coast New Area in Huangdao District.

2014: Civil aviation structure formed

By 2014, civil aviation in Shandong Province had formed a preliminary structure featuring two trunk airports, Jinan and Qingdao, alongside six regional airports.

2014: Elderly Population in Shandong in 2014

By the end of 2014, there were 2.615 million people aged over 80 in Shandong, and 5,932 people aged over 100.

2014: Total annual passenger throughput exceeded 30 million

In 2014, Shandong's total annual passenger throughput exceeded 30 million for the first time, with total cargo and mail volume reaching 350,000 tons. Qingdao Liuting International Airport handled over 10 million passengers.

2014: Shandong's Fisheries in 2014

In 2014, Shandong's total aquatic product output exceeded 9 million tons, with a total fishery output value of ¥360 billion and over 12 million mu of aquaculture area. Dominant marine aquaculture industries included sea cucumbers, kelp, prawns, flounder, sole, clams, and Chinese mitten crabs. Inland aquaculture was developing local specialties such as softshell turtles, Siniperca chuatsi, loach, and icefish.

March 2015: Ethnic Minorities in Shandong in March 2015

As of March 2015, there were 55 ethnic minority groups in Shandong Province, with a total resident population of 720,000, accounting for 0.75% of the province's total population. The Hui ethnic group numbered 540,000, accounting for 75% of the total ethnic minority population.

December 2015: Rizhao Shanzihe Airport opened

Rizhao Shanzihe Airport opened on 22 December 2015.

2015: Shandong's Population and Demographics in 2015

In 2015, 1.2358 million people were born in Shandong, and the year-end permanent population reached 98.4716 million. The 0–14 age group accounted for 16.62% of the total population, the 15–64 age group accounted for 71.17%, and those aged 65 and over accounted for 12.21%.

2015: Huang Bo won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor for Dearest

In 2015, Huang Bo won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor for his role in Dearest.

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2015: Land Area Statistics

In 2015, Shandong had a total land area of 237 million mu (approximately 15.8 million hectares), including 173 million mu of agricultural land, 42.3 million mu of construction land, and 21.63 million mu of unused land. The province features six major soil types, with fluvo-aquic, brown, and cinnamon soils occupying the largest areas.

2015: Tertiary Sector's Contribution in Shandong in 2015

In 2015, the tertiary sector (services) accounted for 45.3% of Shandong Province's total economic output. The financial sector's value-added accounted for 5% of Shandong's GDP, and its contribution to local tax revenue reached 10.7%, making it one of the province's pillar industries.

2015: Inaugural year of marathon events in Shandong

The year 2015 is considered the "inaugural year" of marathon events in Shandong, with major marathons held in various cities.

February 2016: Shandong Under Northern Theater Command

After the establishment of the Theater Commands on February 1, 2016, Shandong came under the jurisdiction of the PLA Northern Theater Command.

October 2016: Shandong has 211 pairs of international sister provinces/states and cities

By the end of October 2016, Shandong had 211 pairs of international sister provinces/states and cities (including 36 at the provincial level).

2016: Shandong has 141 officially accredited higher education institutions

As of 2016, Shandong had 141 officially accredited higher education institutions offering general degree programs.

2016: Education statistics for Shandong

As of 2016, Shandong had a large number of educational institutions, including kindergartens, compulsory education schools, high schools, vocational schools, special education schools, and higher education institutions.

2016: Huang Bo signed with Sony Music Entertainment as a musician

In 2016, Huang Bo signed with Sony Music Entertainment as a musician.

2016: Compulsory Education in Shandong in 2016

In 2016, Shandong achieved a high level of compulsory education with a net enrollment rate of 99.97% for primary school-age children and a retention rate of 97.2% for compulsory education.

2016: Projected Average Life Expectancy in Shandong in 2016

The average life expectancy in Shandong was projected to reach 78 years in 2016.

2017: Huang Bo won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actor for The Conformist

In 2017, Huang Bo won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actor for his role in The Conformist.

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2017: Rocket Force NCO School Established

In 2017, The Rocket Force NCO School of People's Liberation Army Rocket Force was established in Qingzhou, Weifang.

February 2018: Intermediate Courts in Shandong

As of February 2018, Shandong has 18 intermediate courts, including 16 municipal intermediate people's courts, the Jinan Railway Transport Intermediate Court, and the Qingdao Maritime Court. The province also has 156 basic-level courts and 633 grassroots tribunals.

March 2018: Shandong Airlines fleet of 114 Boeing 737 series aircraft

As of March 2018, Shandong Airlines had a fleet of 114 Boeing 737 series aircraft, with an average age of 5.0 years.

December 2018: Laiwu Merged into Jinan in December 2018

On December 26, 2018, the State Council officially approved the administrative adjustment of Laiwu under Jinan's jurisdiction, abolishing Laiwu as a separate prefecture-level city and merging its territory into Jinan. The province now comprises 16 prefecture-level cities.

2018: Economic Structure Adjustment in 2018

By 2018, Shandong's three-sector economic structure had adjusted to a ratio of 6.5:44.0:49.5 (primary:secondary:tertiary), with the service sector contributing 60% to overall economic growth.

January 2019: Laiwu Annexed to Jinan in January 2019

On January 1, 2019, Laiwu was wholly annexed to Jinan.

August 2019: China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Established

In August 2019, the State Council approved the establishment of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, which includes Jinan, Qingdao, and Yantai.

December 2019: Aircraft Carrier Shandong Commissioned

On December 17, 2019, the aircraft carrier "Shandong" was officially commissioned.

2019: Comprehensive coverage rates of radio and television reach over 99%

As of the end of 2019, the comprehensive coverage rates of radio and television in Shandong were 99.13% and 99.10%, respectively.

2020: Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration Population

By 2020, the total population of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration was expected to exceed 103 million, with an urban population of 67 million.

2020: Shandong's Population Exceeds 100 Million in 2020

In 2020, according to the Chinese census, the permanent population of Shandong exceeded 100 million, ranking second in China after Guangdong Province.

May 2021: Shandong's Population Composition in May 2021

On May 21, 2021, the main data of the seventh national population census in Shandong Province was released. The data showed that the total resident population was 101.527 million, of which 100.622 million were Han Chinese, accounting for 99.11%, and 905,000 were ethnic minorities, accounting for 0.89%.

August 2021: Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport commenced operations

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport officially commenced operations on 12 August 2021.

2021: Shandong's Economy

In 2021, Shandong's GDP reached CN¥8.3 trillion (US$1.3 trillion), making it China's third-largest provincial economy. If Shandong were a sovereign state, it would rank as the 15th-largest economy and the 15th-most populous globally. Shandong's GDP per capita was slightly above the national average in 2021.

2023: Urbanization rate reaches approximately 64.2%

In 2023, Shandong's urbanization rate reached approximately 64.2%, with 65.55 million people residing in cities, slightly below the national average but showing consistent growth. The province features a multi-centered urban system with 16 prefecture-level cities.

2024: Shandong's sister regions

As of 2024, Shandong has relationships with South Australia and Bavaria that have become exemplary models of a new type of international provincial partnerships.

2024: Qingdao and Jinan are the only two cities in Shandong with a metro system.

As of the end of 2024, Qingdao and Jinan are the only two cities in Shandong with a metro system.

2025: Shandong's Research Output

As of 2025, the Nature Index ranked Jinan (#27) and Qingdao (#31) in the global top 35 cities by scientific research output.

2025: Jinan and Qingdao rank in top 35 cities by scientific research output

As of 2025, two major cities in Shandong ranked in the top 35 cities in the world (Jinan #27 and Qingdao #31) by scientific research output, as tracked by the Nature Index.