Chinese Historical Dynasties

Dynasty Period Capital Present Location
Xia Approximately 2146-1675 BCE Anyi Shaanxi Xia County
① Shang Approximately 1675-1029 BCE Bo Henan Shangqiu
Zhou Western Zhou ② Approximately 1029-771 BCE Haojing Shaanxi Xi'an
Eastern Zhou 770 BCE-256 BCE Luoyi Henan Luoyang
Qin 221 BCE-207 BCE Xianyang Shaanxi Xianyang
Han ③ Western Han 206 BCE-25 CE Chang'an Shaanxi Xi'an
Eastern Han 25 CE-220 CE Luoyang Henan Luoyang
Three Kingdoms Wei 220-265 CE Luoyang Henan Luoyang
Shu 221-263 CE Chengdu Sichuan Chengdu
Wu 222-280 CE Jianye Jiangsu Nanjing
Western Jin 265-317 CE Luoyang Henan Luoyang
Eastern Jin
Sixteen Kingdoms 		Eastern Jin 317-420 CE Jiankang Jiangsu Nanjing
④ Sixteen Kingdoms 304-439 CE — —
Southern Dynasties Song 420-479 CE Jiankang Jiangsu Nanjing
Qi 479-502 CE Jiankang Jiangsu Nanjing
Liang 502-557 CE Jiankang Jiangsu Nanjing
Chen 557-589 CE Jiankang Jiangsu Nanjing
Northern Dynasties Northern Wei 386-534 CE Pingcheng Shanxi Datong
Luoyang Henan Luoyang
Eastern Wei 534-550 CE Ye Hebei Linzhang
Northern Qi 550-577 CE Ye Hebei Linzhang
Western Wei 535-557 CE Chang'an Shaanxi Xi'an
Northern Zhou 557-581 CE Chang'an Shaanxi Xi'an
Sui 581-618 CE Daxing Shaanxi Xi'an
Tang 618-907 CE Chang'an Shaanxi Xi'an
Five Dynasties
Ten Kingdoms 		Later Liang 907-923 CE Bian Henan Kaifeng
Later Tang 923-936 CE Luoyang Henan Luoyang
Later Jin 936-946 CE Bian Henan Kaifeng
Later Han 947-950 CE Bian Henan Kaifeng
Later Zhou 951-960 CE Bian Henan Kaifeng
⑤ Ten Kingdoms 902-979 CE — —
Song Northern Song 960-1127 CE Kaifeng Henan Kaifeng
Southern Song 1127-1279 CE Lin'an Zhejiang Hangzhou
Liao 907-1125 CE Imperial Capital (Shangjing) Inner Mongolia Balinzuoqi
Western Xia 1038-1227 CE Xingqing Fu Ningxia Yinchuan
Jin 1115-1234 CE Huining Acheng (Heilongjiang)
Zhongdu Beijing
Kaifeng Henan Kaifeng
Yuan 1206-1368 CE Dadu Beijing
Ming 1368-1644 CE Beijing Beijing
Qing 1616-1911 CE Beijing Beijing
Republic of China 1912-1949 CE Nanjing Jiangsu Nanjing
The People's Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949, with its capital in Beijing.
Note:
① Around the 14th century BCE, Pan Geng moved the capital to Yin, and thereafter Shang was also known as Yin.
② The year 841 BCE (the first year of the Western Zhou Republic) marks the precise dating of Chinese history.
③ This period includes the establishment of the "New" dynasty by Wang Mang (8 CE – 23 CE). During Wang Mang's reign, a massive peasant uprising occurred, leading to the establishment of a peasant government. In 23 CE, the New Wang Mang regime collapsed, and in 25 CE, the Eastern Han Dynasty was established.
④ During this period, in the northern part of our country, there were successive feudal regimes, including: Han (Former Zhao), Cheng (Cheng Han), Qian Liang, Hou Zhao (Wei), Qian Yan, Qian Qin, Hou Yan, Hou Qin, Xi Qin, Hou Liang, Nan Liang, Bei Liang, Nan Yan, Xi Liang, Bei Yan, Xia, and other states. This period in history is known as the "Sixteen Kingdoms."
⑤ During this period, in addition to Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou, there were also successive feudal regimes, including: Wu, Qian Shu, Wu Yue, Chu, Min, Nan Han, Jingnan (Nanping), Hou Shu, Nan Tang, and Bei Han, among others. This era is historically referred to as the "Ten Kingdoms."