Dynasty Period Capital (modern location) Founder Xia c. 2070–c. 1600 BC Yangdi (modern Yuzhou, Henan) Yu Shang c. 1600–1046 BC Bo (modern Zhengzhou, Henan) Tang of Shang Western Zhou 1046–771 BC Haojing (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) King Wu of Zhou Eastern Zhou 770–256 BC Luoyi (modern Luoyang, Henan) King Ping of Zhou Qin 221–207 BC Xianyang (Shaanxi) Qin Shi Huang Western Han 202 BC–AD 8 Chang'an (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Liu Bang Eastern Han 25—220 Luoyang (Henan) Liu Xiu Three Kingdoms 220—280 Luoyang (Wei) Cao Pi, Liu Bei, Sun Quan Western Jin 266—316 Luoyang (Henan) Sima Yan Eastern Jin 317—420 Jiankang (modern Nanjing, Jiangsu) Sima Rui Northern and Southern Dynasties 420—589 Jiankang (Southern Dynasties; modern Nanjing, Jiangsu) Liu Yu, Tuoba Gui and others Sui 581—618 Daxing (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Yang Jian Tang 618—907 Chang'an (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Li Yuan Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907—979 Kaifeng Zhu Wen and others Liao 916—1125 Upper Capital (modern Bairin Left Banner, Inner Mongolia) Yelü Abaoji Northern Song 960—1127 Eastern Capital (modern Kaifeng, Henan) Zhao Kuangyin Western Xia 1038—1227 Xingqing (modern Yinchuan, Ningxia) Li Yuanhao Jin 1115—1234 Upper Capital (modern Acheng District, Harbin, Heilongjiang) Wanyan Aguda Southern Song 1127—1279 Lin'an (modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang) Zhao Gou Yuan 1271—1368 Dadu (modern Beijing) Kublai Khan Ming 1368—1644 Nanjing Zhu Yuanzhang Qing 1636—1912 Shengjing (modern Shenyang, Liaoning) Hong Taiji
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Fuxi Legendary Chen (modern Huaiyang District, Zhoukou, Henan) One of the Three Sovereigns; capital and dates are later legends (likewise below) Shennong (Yan Emperor) Legendary Chen (modern Huaiyang, Henan) Yellow Emperor Legendary Youxiong (modern Xinzheng, Henan) Shaohao Legendary Qiongsang → Qufu (Shandong) Zhuanxu Legendary Diqiu (modern Puyang, Henan) Di Ku Legendary Bo (modern Yanshi, Henan; or Shangqiu) Yao Legendary Pingyang (modern Linfen, Shanxi) Shun Legendary Puban (modern Yongji, Shanxi)
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Xia c. 2070–c. 1600 BC Yangcheng (modern Dengfeng, Henan) Founder: Yu (or Qi); dates from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project; capitals in the order of ancient texts, mostly legendary Shang c. 1600–1046 BC Bo (modern Zhengzhou Shang City, Henan; or Shangqiu) Founder: Tang; moved the capital several times in the early period Western Zhou 1046–771 BC Feng and Hao (southwest of modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa Eastern Zhou 770–256 BC Luoyi (modern Luoyang, Henan) Founder: King Ping of Zhou; divided into Spring and Autumn (770–476 BC) and Warring States (475–221 BC)
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Lu Early Western Zhou–256 BC Qufu (Shandong) Founder: Boqin (son of the Duke of Zhou) Qi (Jiang Qi) Early Western Zhou–386 BC Linzi (modern Linzi District, Zibo, Shandong) Founder: Jiang Taigong (Lü Shang); later replaced by the Tian family Jin Early Western Zhou–376 BC Yi (modern Yicheng, Shanxi) Founder: Shu Yu of Tang; partitioned among three families Song Early Western Zhou–286 BC Shangqiu (Henan) Founder: Weizi Qi Wey Early Western Zhou–209 BC Zhaoge (modern Qi County, Henan) Founder: Kangshu Zheng 806–375 BC Xinzheng (Henan) Founder: Duke Huan of Zheng Chen Early Western Zhou–478 BC Wanqiu (modern Huaiyang District, Zhoukou, Henan) Founder: Duke Hu (Gui Man) Cai Early Western Zhou–447 BC Shangcai (Henan) Founder: Shu Du of Cai Cao Early Western Zhou–487 BC Taoqiu (modern Dingtao, Shandong) Founder: Zhenduo, Shu of Cao Xu Early Western Zhou–early Warring States Xu (modern Xuchang, Henan) Qǐ Early Western Zhou–445 BC Yongqiu (modern Qǐ County, Henan) Founder: Duke Donglou; descendant of the Xia Ju Early Western Zhou–431 BC Ju (modern Ju County, Shandong) Wu ?–473 BC Wu (modern Suzhou, Jiangsu) Founder: Taibo (legendary) Yue ?–306 BC (or 222 BC) Kuaiji (modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang)
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Qin 770 BC (made a fief)–221 BC (unification) Yong (modern Fengxiang, Shaanxi) Founder: Duke Xiang of Qin (made a feudal lord) Chu Early Western Zhou–223 BC Ying (modern Jinancheng, Jingzhou, Hubei) Founder: Xiong Yi (enfeoffed) Qi (Tian Qi) 386–221 BC Linzi (modern Linzi District, Zibo, Shandong) Founder: Tian He Yan Early Western Zhou–222 BC Ji (southwest of modern Beijing) Founder: Duke Shi of Shao Han 403–230 BC Yangdi (modern Yuzhou, Henan) Founder: Marquis Jing of Han Zhao 403–222 BC Jinyang (modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) Founder: Marquis Lie of Zhao Wei 403–225 BC Anyi (modern Xia County, Shanxi) Founder: Marquis Wen of Wei Zhongshan c. 414–296 BC Gu (modern Dingzhou, Hebei) A “state of a thousand chariots” outside the Seven Powers Wey (Warring States) –209 BC Puyang Fell last, under the Second Emperor of Qin
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Qin 221–207 BC Xianyang (Shaanxi) Founder: Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zheng) Western Chu 206–202 BC Pengcheng (modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu) Founder: Xiang Yu Western Han 202 BC–AD 8 Chang'an (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: Liu Bang Xin 9—23 Chang'an (Wang Mang's name for Chang'an; modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: Wang Mang Xuan Han (Gengshi) 23—25 Wan (modern Nanyang, Henan) Founder: Liu Xuan Eastern Han 25—220 Luoyang (Henan) Founder: Liu Xiu; at the end moved for a time to Chang'an and Xu (modern Xuchang, Henan) Nanyue 203–111 BC Panyu (modern Guangzhou, Guangdong) Founder: Zhao Tuo Minyue ?–110 BC Dongye (modern Fuzhou, Fujian) Founder: Wuzhu Dian Warring States–Western Han Dian Lake area (modern Jinning, Yunnan) Emperor Wu of Han granted the “Seal of the King of Dian” Yelang Warring States–27 BC Around modern western Guizhou Chengjia 25—36 Chengdu (Sichuan) Founder: Gongsun Shu
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Former Zhao (Han Zhao) 304—329 Zuoguo City (modern Lishi, Shanxi) Founder: Liu Yuan; Xiongnu Cheng Han 304—347 Chengdu (Sichuan) Founder: Li Xiong; Ba-Di people Former Liang 314—376 Guzang (modern Wuwei, Gansu) Founder: Zhang Gui (or Zhang Shi); Zhang family Later Zhao 319—351 Xiangguo (modern Xingtai, Hebei) Founder: Shi Le; Jie people Former Yan 337—370 Longcheng (modern Chaoyang, Liaoning) Founder: Murong Huang; Murong Xianbei Former Qin 351—394 Chang'an (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: Fu Jian; Di people; later ruler Fu Jian Later Yan 384—407 Zhongshan (modern Dingzhou, Hebei) Founder: Murong Chui Later Qin 384—417 Chang'an (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: Yao Chang; Qiang people Western Qin 385—431 Yuanchuan (modern Yuzhong, Gansu) Founder: Qifu Guoren; Qifu Xianbei Later Liang 386—403 Guzang (modern Wuwei, Gansu) Founder: Lü Guang; Di people Southern Liang 397—414 Lianchuan Fort (modern Minhe, Qinghai) Founder: Tufa Wugu; Tufa Xianbei Northern Liang 397—439 Zhangye (Gansu) Founder: Duan Ye (later replaced by Juqu Mengxun); Juqu of the Lushui Hu Southern Yan 398—410 Guanggu (modern Qingzhou, Shandong) Founder: Murong De Western Liang 400—421 Dunhuang (Gansu) Founder: Li Gao Hu Xia 407—431 Tongwan City (modern Jingbian, Shaanxi) Founder: Helian Bobo; Xiongnu Northern Yan 407—436 Longcheng (modern Chaoyang, Liaoning) Founder: Feng Ba (or Gao Yun) Ran Wei 350—352 Ye (modern Linzhang, Hebei) Founder: Ran Min; not counted among the Sixteen Kingdoms Western Yan 384—394 Zhangzi (Shanxi) Founder: Murong Hong; not counted among the Sixteen Kingdoms Dai 315—376 Shengle (modern Horinger, Inner Mongolia) Founder: Tuoba Yilu; Tuoba clan, forerunner of the Northern Wei Chouchi 296—506 Mount Chouchi (modern Xihe, Gansu) Founder: Yang Maosou; Yang clan of the Di, several successive regimes Tuyuhun 329—663 Fusicheng (modern Gonghe, Qinghai) A Xianbei branch in the Qinghai area; conquered by Tubo Gaochang (Qu family) 502—640 Gaochang City (modern Turpan, Xinjiang) Founder: Qu Jia; preceded by the Kan, Zhang and Ma Gaochang
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Song (Liu Song) 420—479 Jiankang (modern Nanjing, Jiangsu) Founder: Liu Yu; Southern Dynasties Qi (Southern Qi) 479—502 Jiankang (modern Nanjing, Jiangsu) Founder: Xiao Daocheng; Southern Dynasties Liang 502—557 Jiankang (modern Nanjing, Jiangsu) Founder: Xiao Yan; Southern Dynasties Chen 557—589 Jiankang (modern Nanjing, Jiangsu) Founder: Chen Baxian; Southern Dynasties Western Liang (Later Liang) 555—587 Jiangling (modern Jingzhou, Hubei) Founder: Xiao Cha; vassal of the Western Wei, Northern Zhou and Sui Northern Wei 386—534 Shengle Founder: Tuoba Gui; Northern Dynasties Eastern Wei 534—550 Ye (modern Linzhang, Hebei) Founder: Yuan Shanjian (installed by Gao Huan); Northern Dynasties Western Wei 535—557 Chang'an (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: Yuan Baoju (installed by Yuwen Tai); Northern Dynasties Northern Qi 550—577 Ye (modern Linzhang, Hebei) Founder: Gao Yang; Northern Dynasties Northern Zhou 557—581 Chang'an (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: Yuwen Jue; Northern Dynasties
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Sui 581—618 Daxing City (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: Yang Jian Tang 618—907 Chang'an (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: Li Yuan Wu Zhou 690—705 Shendu Luoyang (modern Luoyang, Henan) Founder: Wu Zetian; an interlude within the Tang Zheng (Wang Shichong) 619—621 Luoyang (Henan) Founder: Wang Shichong; late-Sui rival powers Xia (Dou Jiande) 617—621 Leshou (modern Xian County, Hebei) Founder: Dou Jiande; late-Sui rival powers Liang (Xiao Xian) 617—621 Jiangling (modern Jingzhou, Hubei) Founder: Xiao Xian; late-Sui rival powers Yan (An–Shi) 756—763 Luoyang (Henan) Founder: An Lushan; Shi Siming Qi (Huang Chao) 881—884 Chang'an (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) Founder: Huang Chao Tubo Early 7th century–842 Rasa (modern Lhasa, Tibet) Founder: Songtsen Gampo; western regime of the Tang era Nanzhao 738—902 Taihe City → Yangjumie City (modern Dali, Yunnan) Founder: Piluoge; south-western regional state
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Wu 902—937 Guangling (Jiangdu; modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) Founder: Yang Xingmi Southern Tang 937—975 Jinling (Jiangning; modern Nanjing, Jiangsu) Founder: Li Bian; Li Jing, Li Yu Wuyue 907—978 Hangzhou (Zhejiang) Founder: Qian Liu; surrendered its lands to the Song Min 909—945 Changle Prefecture (modern Fuzhou, Fujian) Founder: Wang Shenzhi Chu (Ma Chu) 907—951 Changsha (Hunan) Founder: Ma Yin Southern Han 917—971 Xingwang Prefecture (modern Guangzhou, Guangdong) Founder: Liu Yan Former Shu 907—925 Chengdu (Sichuan) Founder: Wang Jian Later Shu 934—965 Chengdu (Sichuan) Founder: Meng Zhixiang Jingnan (Nanping) 924—963 Jiangling (modern Jingzhou, Hubei) Founder: Gao Jixing Northern Han 951—979 Taiyuan (Shanxi) Founder: Liu Chong; the only one of the Ten Kingdoms in the north
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Northern Song 960—1127 Eastern Capital, Kaifeng Prefecture (modern Kaifeng, Henan) Founder: Zhao Kuangyin Southern Song 1127—1279 Lin'an (modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang) Founder: Zhao Gou; first enthroned at Yingtian Prefecture (modern Shangqiu, Henan) Liao 916—1125 Upper Capital, Linhuang Prefecture (modern Bairin Left Banner, Inner Mongolia) Founder: Yelü Abaoji; Khitan; Abaoji became khan in 907, the state was named Liao from 947 Western Liao 1124—1218 Balasagun (Khus Ordu; near modern Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan) Founder: Yelü Dashi Western Xia 1038—1227 Xingqing Prefecture (Zhongxing Prefecture; modern Yinchuan, Ningxia) Founder: Li Yuanhao; Tangut Jin 1115—1234 Upper Capital, Huining Prefecture (modern Acheng District, Harbin, Heilongjiang) Founder: Wanyan Aguda; Jurchen Dali 937—1253 Yangjumie City (modern Dali, Yunnan) Founder: Duan Siping; Duan family; briefly replaced by the Gao family's “Dazhong”, afterwards called Later Dali Da Changhe, Da Tianxing, Da Yining 902—937 Yangjumie City (modern Dali, Yunnan) Founders: Zheng Maisi, Zhao Shanzheng, Yang Ganzhen; three short-lived states between Nanzhao and Dali Chu (Zhang Bangchang) 1127 Kaifeng (Henan) Founder: Zhang Bangchang; installed by the Jin, lasted just over a month Qi (Liu Yu) 1130—1137 Daming (Hebei) Founder: Liu Yu; installed by the Jin
Dynasties and states Period Capital (modern location) Notes Great Mongol State 1206—1271 Karakorum (modern Övörkhangai Province, Mongolia) Founder: Genghis Khan (Temüjin); in 1271 Kublai Khan renamed the state Yuan Yuan 1271—1368 Dadu (modern Beijing) Founder: Kublai Khan Northern Yuan 1368—1388 Shangdu Founder: Toghon Temür (Emperor Shun of Yuan); the Yuan court withdrew north of the Gobi and later dropped the name Yuan Song (Han Lin'er) 1355—1366 Bozhou (Anhui) Founder: Han Lin'er; late-Yuan Red Turbans Han (Chen Youliang) 1360—1364 Jiangzhou (modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi) Founder: Chen Youliang; late-Yuan rival powers Zhou (Zhang Shicheng) 1354—1367 Gaoyou Founder: Zhang Shicheng; late-Yuan rival powers Xia (Ming Yuzhen) 1363—1371 Chongqing Founder: Ming Yuzhen; late-Yuan rival powers Ming 1368—1644 Yingtian Prefecture (modern Nanjing, Jiangsu) Founder: Zhu Yuanzhang Dashun 1644—1645 Xi'an (Chang'an) Founder: Li Zicheng Daxi 1644—1646 Chengdu (Sichuan) Founder: Zhang Xianzhong Southern Ming 1644—1662 Nanjing (Hongguang) Founder: Zhu Yousong (Hongguang Emperor); successive regimes set up in the south by Ming princes Later Jin 1616—1636 Hetu Ala (modern Xinbin, Liaoning) Founder: Nurhaci; in 1636 Hong Taiji renamed the state Qing Qing 1636—1912 Shengjing (modern Shenyang, Liaoning) Founder: Hong Taiji (renamed the state Qing) Zhou (Wu Sangui) 1678—1681 Hengzhou (modern Hengyang, Hunan) Founder: Wu Sangui; Revolt of the Three Feudatories Taiping Heavenly Kingdom 1851—1864 Tianjing (modern Nanjing, Jiangsu) Founder: Hong Xiuquan
Rank Place Dynasties and states with a capital here 1 Beijing Qing, Ming, Yuan, Yan, Jin, Liao, Former Yan, Dashun 2 Xi'an Tang, Western Han, Western Zhou, Sui, Northern Zhou, Former Qin, Xin, Eastern Han, Western Wei, Western Jin, Later Qin, Former Zhao (Han Zhao), Xuan Han (Gengshi), Qi (Huang Chao), Dashun 3 Luoyang Eastern Han, Western Jin, Tang, Wei, Northern Wei, Eastern Zhou, Wu Zhou, Sui, Western Zhou, Later Tang, Yan (An–Shi), Xuan Han (Gengshi), Zheng (Wang Shichong) 4 Nanjing Ming, Eastern Jin, Song (Liu Song), Liang, Qi (Southern Qi), Chen, Wu, Southern Tang, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Southern Ming 5 Kaifeng Northern Song, Jin, Wei, Later Liang, Later Jin, Later Zhou, Later Han, Qi (Liu Yu), Chu (Zhang Bangchang) 6 Hangzhou Southern Song, Wuyue 7 Zhengzhou Shang 8 Anyang Shang 9 Datong Northern Wei, Liao 10 Bairin Left Banner Liao 11 Jingzhou Chu, Jingnan (Nanping), Western Liang (Later Liang), Liang (Xiao Xian) 12 Yanshi Xia 13 Linzi Qi (Jiang Qi), Qi (Tian Qi) 14 Xuchang Eastern Han, Xu 15 Xianyang Qin 16 Fengxiang Qin 17 Dali Dali, Nanzhao, Da Changhe, Da Tianxing, Da Yining 18 Linzhang Northern Qi, Eastern Wei, Later Zhao, Former Yan, Ran Wei 19 Ningcheng Liao 20 Lhasa Tubo 21 Acheng Jin 22 Dengfeng Xia 23 Yicheng Jin 24 Houma Jin 25 Shangqiu Song, Southern Song 26 Qufu Lu 27 Yinchuan Western Xia 28 Handan Zhao 29 Xinzheng Zheng, Han 30 Horinger Northern Wei, Dai 31 Chengdu Shu Han, Cheng Han, Later Shu, Former Shu, Chengjia, Daxi 32 Huaiyang Chu, Chen 33 Liaoyang Liao, Later Jin 34 Guangzhou Nanyue, Southern Han 35 Puyang Wey 36 Ju County Ju 37 Gonghe Tuyuhun 38 Qi County Wey 39 Dingtao Cao 40 Wuwei Former Liang, Northern Liang, Later Liang 41 Shangcai Cai 42 Yanliang Qin 43 Xingtai Later Zhao 44 Chaoyang Former Yan, Later Yan, Northern Yan 45 Suzhou Wu, Zhou (Zhang Shicheng) 46 Shaoxing Yue 47 Xia County Wei 48 Shou County Chu, Song (Han Lin'er) 49 Jinning Dian 50 Fuzhou Minyue, Min, Southern Ming 51 Yangzhou Wu 52 Shenyang Qing, Later Jin 53 Taiyuan Zhao, Northern Han 54 Changsha Chu (Ma Chu) 55 Ezhou Wu 56 Dingzhou Later Yan, Zhongshan 57 Xihe Chouchi 58 Xuzhou Western Chu 59 Pingshan Zhongshan 60 Runan Jin 61 Qǐ County Qǐ 62 Linfen Former Zhao (Han Zhao) 63 Yuzhou Han 64 Turpan Gaochang (Qu family) 65 Zhaoqing Southern Ming 66 Jingbian Hu Xia 67 Yuzhong Western Qin 68 Lishi Former Zhao (Han Zhao) 69 Linxia Western Qin 70 Zhangye Northern Liang 71 Xinbin Later Jin 72 Fengtai Cai 73 Hexigten Banner Northern Yuan 74 Qingzhou Southern Yan 75 Ledu Southern Liang 76 Qinyang Wey (Warring States) 77 Jiuquan Western Liang 78 Zhangzi Western Yan 79 Hengyang Zhou (Wu Sangui) 80 Nanyang Xuan Han (Gengshi) 81 Chongqing Xia (Ming Yuzhen) 82 Plain Blue Banner Northern Yuan 83 Wuchang Han (Chen Youliang) 84 Xian County Xia (Dou Jiande) 85 Yongnian Xia (Dou Jiande) 86 Daming Qi (Liu Yu) 87 Dunhuang Western Liang 88 Gaoyou Zhou (Zhang Shicheng) 89 Bozhou Song (Han Lin'er) 90 Jiujiang Han (Chen Youliang)
BeijingXi'anLuoyangNanjingKaifengHangzhouZhengzhouAnyangDatongBairin Left BannerJingzhouDaliLhasaAcheng (Harbin)YinchuanChengduGuangzhouFuzhouShenyangTaiyuanChangshaTurpanChongqing