To understand contemporary China, one must look back into its past. As one of the world’s oldest civilizations, China’s more than 5,000 years of history are not confined to textbooks and museums; they continue to offer living wisdom today. Its long history was shaped not only by emperors and legendary figures, but also by the countless ordinary people who have lived on this land.
From the complex political struggles during the Three Kingdoms period and the mysterious bronze artifacts unearthed at Sanxingdui, to the lasting influence of Confucianism, which continues to influence Chinese social values and ways of life, China’s history reveals the breadth of human experience, as the ancients learned about the natural world, overcame disaster, dealt with conflict, sought better lives, or simply live out their days while creating arts and poetry and forming philosophical ideas.
Whether it’s the tumultuous Warring States period, lost tales along the ancient Silk Road, crime and punishment in the Ming and Qing dynasties, or the sweeping transformation of modern China, our collection of stories from Chinese history is yours to explore.
From Christians in the Tang dynasty to all-night parties in early 1900s Shanghai, the Western holiday has a longer history in China than most people …
This master astronomer and mathematician solved the mystery of lunar eclipses, simplified proofs, and advocated learning for all—male and female
Two villages allegedly disappeared overnight in the last century: Where did they go? Did they even exist?
Since the 13th century, a mysterious creature in Kanas Lake has been killing livestock and baffling researchers
From weaving to medicine to math, these badass scientists left their mark on history, despite the patriarchal obstacles in their path
Arson, thieving eunuchs, military invasion: the Forbidden City’s journey from imperial palace to public museum was anything but smooth
How were children without parents treated in ancient history?
As Chinese developer Game Science releases a sneak peek of “Black Myth: Zhong Kui,” get to know the Chinese folk deity famed for his fearsome appeara…
How ancient Chinese battled moths, mold, and moisture to keep their manuscripts safe
Rivers of mercury, pearl-studded ceilings—the contents of the unopened burial chamber of Qin Shi Huang continue to baffle archaeologists
How a 19th-century act of “corporate espionage” changed world history
The Wanggongchang Explosion continues to mystify historians almost 400 years later
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