Articles Index

The Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976
The Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976 rattled much of northern China, and caused more casualties than any other quake in the twentieth century. It also shook the halls of power, fundamentally changing the people's view of the top Communist leadership.

Tibet and China: History of a Complex Relationship
Is Tibet part of China? History of the interactions between China and Tibet, including the unclear relationship between the two over time. Was Tibet really part of China before 1949, or was it an independent country?

The Tiananmen Square Massacre, 1989
In 1989, the Chinese government faced escalating student protests in Beijing and other cities. The regime cracked down hard, with tanks and soldiers from the People's Liberation Army. Estimates of the number of students, soldiers, and ordinary citizens killed range between 241 (government numbers) to 2,600 (Chinese Red Cross) to 7,000 (foreign NGOs). Video and photos gave the world a front-row seat at the Tiananmen Square Massacre, sparking wide-spread condemnation of the government's actions.

Eyewitness at Tiananmen Square, 1989
Interview and images from Jeff Widener, the photographer who took the iconic "Tank Man" photo during the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre in Beijing, China.