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.
Prized in ancient China for their strength on and off the battlefield, horses have long been synonymous with talent and misused potential—a theme now…
Explore the multifaceted life of Song Emperor Zhao Kuangyin and the idioms it inspired
Forget about Princess Di—the Qing court was rife with rumors that rival any modern royal scandal, from identity-swapped emperors and contested succes…
With a record number of people taking the Chinese bar exam this year, attention has turned once again to the country’s toughest exam—and to how it ha…
A cursory look back through some key characters in China’s history reveals that much can be achieved, even in one’s twilight years
Ancient seafarers who roamed China’s waters left behind countless legends: as leaders of popular uprisings, developers of maritime trade, and heroes …
Once a privilege for the few, air travel has changed dramatically—along with the female cabin crew who are now speaking out against unfair working co…
China’s newest UNESCO site could hold the keys to a lost kingdom. Explore its destruction and how historians are reviving the Western Xia tombs.
On the 75th anniversary of China’s first marriage law, a look back at how far the legal framework has come, from advancing women’s rights to addressi…
Through greed, betrayal, or simple mischance, these ancient sons and daughters brought ruin upon their own fathers, officials, princes, and emperors …
From pedestrian wheelbarrows imbued with mystical powers to mechanical beings that poured wine for Tang dynasty courtiers, ancient China birthed mech…
A contemporary of William Shakespeare, Ming dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu left a literary legacy built on dreams and love
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