Timeline of Guangzhou

The following is a timeline of the history of the Chinese city of Guangzhou, also formerly known as Panyu, Canton, and Kwang-chow.

Nanyue

214 BCE – Panyu established as a Qin base during Zhao Tuo's first failed invasion of the southern lands of the Baiyue
204 BCE – Panyu becomes the capital of Zhao Tuo's kingdom of Nanyue.

Imperial China

111 BCE – Panyu becomes a provincial capital of the Han dynasty after the Han–Nanyue War as the Han expands southward.
226 CE – Panyu becomes the seat of Guang Prefecture.
401 – Guangxiao Temple first established as the "Baoen Guangziao" Temple.
537 – Temple of the Six Banyan Trees built.
878–879 — Guangzhou massacre instigated by forces loyal to Huang Chao
1350 – Huaisheng Mosque rebuilt.
1380 – Zhenhai Tower built.
1516 – Portuguese merchants arrive.
1600 – Pazhou Pagoda built.
1619 – Chigang Pagoda built.
1684 – British East India Company in business.
1821 – Xigutang literary society formed.
1822 – Fire.
1827 – The Canton Register, an English-language newspaper, begins publication.
1832 – Jardine, Matheson and Co. in business.
1834 – Wetmore & Co. in business.
1835 – The Canton Press, an English-language newspaper, begins publication.
1840 – Augustine Heard and Company in business.
1841
* February 27: Battle of First Bar.
* March 2: Battle of Whampoa.
* March 18: Battle of Canton
* May: Second Battle of Canton.
1842 – City designated a treaty port under the Treaty of Nanking.
1848 – Apostolic Vicariate of Guangdong-Guangxi established.
1856
* British/French occupation begins.
* Thirteen Factories set on fire.
1859 – Shameen Island divided into French and British concessions.
1861 – British/French occupation ends.
1863 – Sacred Heart Cathedral built.
1866 – Yu Yin Shan Fang garden laid out.
1879
* City area: 6.5 square kilometers.
* Population: 400,000.
1894
* Plague.
* Chen Clan Academy built.
1895 – Xinhai Revolution#First [Guangzhou Uprising|First Guangzhou uprising]
1908 – Guangzhou North Railway Station opens.
1911
* Kowloon–Canton Railway begins operating.
* Second Guangzhou Uprising

Republic of China

The Shakee Massacre on June 23, 1925, resulted in over two hundred casualties due to gunfire by British, French and Portuguese forces in Shaji
1918 – Urban council established.
1923
* June: National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party held in Guangzhou.
* Kuomintang in power.
1924
* Peasant Movement Training Institute and Whampoa Military Academy open.
* Canton Merchant Volunteers Corps Uprising.
* National Kwangtung University established.
1927 – December 11–13: Communist uprising.
1931 – Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall built.
1932
* Guangzhou Baiyun Airport opens in Baiyun District.
* Guangzhou Conservatory of Music founded.
1933 – Haizhu Bridge constructed.
1936
* Canton–Hankou Railway begins operating.
* Population: 1,122,600.
1938 – October 21: Japanese occupation begins.
1945 – September 16: Japanese occupation ends.
1949
* Nationalist government under the acting president Li Zongren relocates to Guangzhou.
* Nanfang Daily newspaper begins publication.

People's Republic of China

1949
* October: Communist forces enter city.
* Radio Guangdong begins broadcasting.
1952 – Guangzhou Daily newspaper begins publication.
1954
* Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club formed.
* South China Institute of Botany active.
1956 – Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine founded.
1957
* Beijing–Guangzhou Railway in operation.
* Canton Fair begins.
* Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra founded.
* Population: 1,840,000.
1958
* Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in operation.
* Jinan University relocates to Guangzhou.
1959 – Guangdong Provincial Museum founded.
1964 – Population: 3,031,486.
1967 – Renmin Bridge built.
1981 - Sister city relationship established with Los Angeles, USA.
1982
* Guangzhou Library and Liyuan Poetry Society established.
* Population: 3,181,510 city; 5,669,640 urban agglomeration.
1983 – Mausoleum of the Nanyue King discovered.
1984
* Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone established.
* City designated Sub-provincial city in the [People's Republic of China|sub-provincial city] administrative status.
* Southern Weekly newspaper begins publication.
1985
* Zhujiang Brewery begins operation.
* Guangzhou Bridge built.
1988
* Haiyin Bridge built.
* Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King opens.
1990
* Guangdong International Building constructed.
* Avon begins hiring ladies in Guangzhou.
* Population: 6,299,943.
1991
* Guangzhou TV Tower erected.
* November: 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup held.
1992 – Guangzhou Free Trade Zone established.
1996 – Guangzhou East railway station opens.
1997
* Guangzhou Metro begins operating.
* CITIC Plaza and Humen Pearl River Bridge built.
* Southern Metropolis Daily begins publication.
* Xiangjiang Safari Park opens.
1998 – Hedong Bridge, Jiangwan Bridge, Jiefang Bridge, and Huanan Bridge open.
2000 – Yajisha Bridge opens.
2001
* Guangdong Olympic Stadium opens.
* November: Chinese National Games held in Guangzhou.
2002
* Vitamin Creative Space founded.
* Population: 10,106,229.
2003
* Zhang Guangning becomes mayor.
* Pazhou Bridge opens.
2004
* Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport opens in Huadu District.
* Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center built.
* Guangzhou International Women's Open tennis tournament begins.
2006 – Chime-Long Paradise amusement park in business.
2008 – Huangpu Bridge and Xinguang Bridge open.
2009 – Liede Bridge opens.
2010
* Canton Tower and Guangzhou International Finance Center built.
* November: 2010 Asian Games held.
* Guangzhou Opera House, Guangdong Museum, and Guangzhou South Railway Station open.
* Wan Qingliang becomes mayor.
* Guangzhou Television Cantonese controversy.
* Guangzhou Bus Rapid Transit system launched.
2011
* Guangzhou–Zhuhai Intercity Railway begins operating.
* Pearl River Tower built.
* Chen Jianhua becomes mayor.
2012 – Leatop Plaza and The Pinnacle built.
2013 – Air pollution in Guangzhou reaches annual mean of 48 PM2.5 and 72 PM10, more than recommended.
2021 – 2021 Guangzhou bombing.