Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Cultural Revolution breaks out. The movement is marked by a fetish for
violence as a catalyst for transforming society.
1972
US President Richard Nixon visits China, marking a major rapprochement
and the start of full diplomatic relations.
1976
Mao Zedong dies, aged 83. The Gang of Four are arrested by his suc-
cessor and put on trial.
1989
Student demonstrations in Tian'anmen Sq end, resulting in the deaths of
hundreds of people.
Statue, Tian'anmen Sq, Beijing (
Click here
)
1997
Hong Kong is returned to the People's Republic of China.
2001
China joins the World Trade Organization, giving it a seat at the top table
that decides global norms on economics and finance.
2008
Beijing hosts the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympics, burnish-
ing China's image overseas.
2009
July riots in Urumqi leave hundreds dead as inter-ethnic violence flares
between Uighurs and Han Chinese.
2010
The largest ever World Expo is held in Shanghai in spring.
2012
Xi Jinping replaces Hu Jintao as General Secretary of the CCP, during the
18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
