Chinese Cities by Historical Events #3

1763

The Manchus began to construct a walled city after the Dzungars of the region were eliminated in the Dzungar genocide. The Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝) named the new settlement "Dihua", meaning "to enlighten (the uncivilized people)"

1860

The Third Battle of Taku Forts was one of the last major engagements of the Second Opium War. Upon the Anglo-French victory, the Chinese authorities capitulated this city and all 22 forts along the river route to Peking

1911

An armed rebellion against the ruling Qing dynasty took place in this city on 10 October, which was the beginning of the Xinhai Revolution that successfully overthrew China's last imperial dynasty

1932

Heavy fighting broke out between Japan and China on January 28 in the International Settlement of this city which was under international control. China appealed with no success to the League of Nations, and a truce was finally reached on May 5

1938-43

A terror bombing operation conducted by the Imperial Japanese Army on the Chinese provisional capital. A total of 268 air raids were conducted with more than 11,500 bombs dropped, causing over 10,000 civilian casualties and 18,600 buildings destroyed and much of the city centre was damaged

1941

One of the first battles of the Pacific War in World War II, forces of the Empire of Japan attacked this city. Within a week the British, Indian and Canadian units alongside the Chinese soldiers abandoned the mainland and less than two weeks later, the city surrendered on Christmas Day.

1959

A revolt erupted in this city, which had been under the effective control of the People's Republic of China since the Seventeen Point Agreement was reached in 1951. Fearing for his life, the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India, from where he led a government in exile

1964

Mao Zedong (毛澤東) promulgated his Supreme Directive, In industry, learn from ______, which became a slogan during the Cultural Revolution telling the people to use this city as an example for industrial production

1976

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit this city on 28 July. At least 242,000 people died, making this the third (or possibly second) deadliest earthquake in recorded history

1979

A crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in this city during Taiwan's martial law period, when members from the Formosa Magazine and other opposition politicians held a demonstration commemorating Human Rights Day to promote and demand democracy in Taiwan