Chinese dynasties at a glance
From the legendary Xia to modern China, dynasties lasted anywhere from fifteen years to six centuries. This timeline gives you the highlights, capitals, and travel ideas tied to each era.
23
From Shang (c.1600 BCE) to Qing (1644–1911 CE).
790 yrs
Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE) including Western/Eastern periods.
8 times
Including Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Yuan, Ming, Qing, PRC.
55+
Linked to dynastic heritage—from the Terracotta Army to the Forbidden City.
Quick timeline of Chinese dynasties
Stick this in your slide deck: the essential dynastic sequence with cultural highlights.
Xia
Mythical hydraulic rulers along the Yellow River. Visit Luoyang museums to see Erlitou remains.
Shang
First archaeologically confirmed dynasty; oracle bones at Yinxu (Anyang). Capital: Yin (Anyang).
Zhou (Western & Eastern)
Mandate of Heaven concept, feudal states. Capitals near Xi’an and Luoyang. Confucius, Laozi period.
Han (Western/Eastern)
Silk Road opened, paper invented, capitals at Chang’an and Luoyang. Visit Xi’an city walls and museums.
Three Kingdoms → Jin → Northern & Southern dynasties
Fragmented era; story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Sites in Chengdu (Wuhou Shrine), Nanjing.
Sui
Short-lived but built Grand Canal. Capital Daxing (Xi’an). Bridges in Hangzhou trace the canal.
Tang
Golden age of cosmopolitan culture, poetry, Buddhism. Chang’an (Xi’an) again the capital. Visit the Tang Ever Bright City, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Song (Northern & Southern)
Innovations in printing, finance, ceramics. Capitals Kaifeng then Hangzhou. West Lake scenes inspired classical painting.
Yuan (Mongol)
Kublai Khan’s dynasty; capital Dadu (Beijing). Ghost city remains at Yuanshangdu (Inner Mongolia). Marco Polo’s chronicles.
Ming
Forbidden City, porcelain, maritime voyages (Zheng He). Capitals Nanjing then Beijing. Visit Beijing imperial sites, Jingdezhen porcelain kilns.
Qing
Manchu dynasty, expansion into Xinjiang, Tibet, Taiwan. Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven reflect Qing aesthetics.
Republic of China
Capital moved between Nanjing, Beijing, Chongqing. Visit Nanjing Presidential Palace, Chongqing wartime sites.
People’s Republic of China
Capital Beijing. Explore socialist heritage: Tian’anmen, 798 Art District, reform-era Shenzhen.
Dynasties by theme
Unification moments
Qin unified warring states; Sui/Tang reunited after centuries of division; Yuan & Qing integrated vast frontiers.
Culture & innovation
Han (paper), Tang (poetry, ceramics), Song (printing, gunpowder, compass), Ming (porcelain perfection), Qing (novels like Dream of the Red Chamber).
Global linkages
Silk Road (Han/Tang), Maritime trade (Song), Zheng He voyages (Ming), Treaty ports (Qing), modern export boom (PRC).
| Dynasty / period | Years | Capital | Hallmarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qin | 221–206 BCE | Xianyang (near Xi’an) | Script standardisation, Terracotta Army, early Great Wall. |
| Western Han | 206 BCE – 9 CE | Chang’an (Xi’an) | Silk Road, imperial exams, Han culture spread. |
| Tang | 618–907 | Chang’an | Cosmopolitan trade, Tang poetry, Buddhism, Tri-colour ceramics. |
| Song | 960–1279 | Kaifeng → Hangzhou | Neo-Confucianism, landscape painting, proto-banks, urban commerce. |
| Yuan | 1271–1368 | Dadu (Beijing) | Mongol rule, postal stations, Yuan drama, astronomy. |
| Ming | 1368–1644 | Nanjing → Beijing | Forbidden City, Zheng He voyages, porcelain export. |
| Qing | 1644–1911 | Beijing | Multi-ethnic empire, Summer Palace, Peking opera, Opium Wars. |
| Republic of China | 1912–1949 | Nanjing (intermittent) | Modernisation, anti-colonial struggles, Japanese invasion. |
| People’s Republic of China | 1949–present | Beijing | Reform & opening, industrialisation, digital economy. |
Frequently asked questions
How do historians group dynasties?
Common groupings: Ancient (Xia–Qin), Imperial (Han–Qing), Modern (Republic onwards). Some also use “Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors” for legendary pre-Xia rulers.
Where can I see artifacts from multiple dynasties?
National Museum of China, Shanghai Museum, Taipei’s National Palace Museum, and Xi’an’s Shaanxi History Museum.
What happened between dynasties?
Transition eras included warlord periods, Northern/Southern dynasties, or short-lived regimes (e.g., Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms between Tang and Song).
Turn history into itineraries
Use our guides to connect dynastic heritage with modern travel plans.
- Ten ancient capitals — match dynasties to their cities.
- Mountain guide — explore sacred peaks like Wutai (Buddhist) and Taishan (imperial rituals).
- River guide — trace dynastic heartlands along the Yellow and Yangtze.
- Xi’an playbook — Terracotta Army, Tang heritage shows, Silk Road.