The history of China stretches back into the mists of time. The traditional story of this ancient history was recorded by the historian Sima Qian during the Western Han Dynasty in the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), beginning with the legendary Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and continuing through the (archaeologically poorly-attested) Xia Dynasty. The earliest dynasty for which archaeological evidence exists, the Shang Dynasty, traditionally ruled from 1600 to 1046 BCE, before being overthrown by King Wu of Zhou.
The kings of the Zhou Dynasty would rule de jure for approximately 800 years, but according to Sima Qian the period of actually-effective Zhou kingship lasted until only 771 BCE. The remainder of the era, divided into the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 481 BCE) and the Warring States Period (475 – 221 BCE), saw the Zhou kings reduced to figureheads while their realm fragmented into numerous competing and, eventually (as the name suggests), warring states.
Heads of State of China
Provisional Government of the Republic of China
President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of China
Sun Yat-sen
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 12 1866; d. March 12 1925.
Tongmenghui
1912
Republic of China
President of the Republic of China
V.K. Wellington Koo (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 29 1888; d. November 14 1985.
Independent
1926 – 1927
Chair of the National Government of the Republic of China
Chiang Kai-shek
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 31 1887; d. April 5 1975.
Kuomintang
1928 – 1931
Chiang Kai-shek
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 31 1887; d. April 5 1975.
Kuomintang
1943 – 1948
President of the Republic of China
Chiang Kai-shek
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 31 1887; d. April 5 1975.
Kuomintang
1948 – 1949
Chiang Kai-shek
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 31 1887; d. April 5 1975.
Kuomintang
1950 – 1975
Chiang Ching-kuo
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 27 1910; d. January 13 1988.
Kuomintang
1975 – 1988
Lee Teng-hui
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 15 1923; d. July 30 2020.
Kuomintang
1988 – 2000
Chen Shui-bian
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1950.
Democratic Progressive Party
2000 – 2008
Ma Ying-jeou
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 13 1950.
Premiers: Liu Chao-shiuan (2008 – 2009); Wu Den-yih (2009 – 2012); Sean Chen (2012 – 2013); Jiang Yi-huah (2013 – 2014); Mao Chi-kuo (2014 – 2016); Chang San-cheng (2016).
Other prominent offices: Minister of Research, Development, and Evaluation (1988 – 1991); Minister of Justice (1993 – 1996); Mayor of Taipei (1998 – 2006); Chairman of the Kuomintang (2005 – 2007, 2009 – 2014).
Kuomintang
2008 – 2016
Tsai Ing-wen
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 31 1956.
Premiers: Lin Chuan (2016 – 2017); Lai Ching-te (2017 – 2019); Su Tseng-chang (2019 – 2023); Chen Chien-jen (2023 – 2024).
Other prominent offices: Member of the Legislative Yuan (2005 – 2006); Vice Premier of the Republic of China (2006 – 2007); Chair of the Democratic Progressive Party (2008 – 2012; 2014 – 2018; 2020 – 2022).
Democratic Progressive Party
2016 – 2024
Lai Ching-te
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 6 1959.
Premier: Cho Jung-tai.
Other prominent offices: Premier of the Republic of China (2017 – 2019); Vice President of the Republic of China (2020 – 2024); Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (2023 – present).
Democratic Progressive Party
2024 – present
Vice President of the Republic of China
Lee Teng-hui
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 15 1923; d. July 30 2020.
Kuomintang
1984 – 1988
Lien Chan
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 27 1936.
Kuomintang
1996 – 2000
Annette Lu Hsiu-lien
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 7 1944.
Democratic Progressive Party
2000 – 2008
Siew Wan-chang
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1939.
Kuomintang
2008 – 2012
Wu Den-yih
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 30 1948.
Kuomintang
2012 – 2016
Chen Chien-jen
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 6 1951.
Independent
2016 – 2020
Lai Ching-te
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 6 1959.
Democratic Progressive Party
2020 – 2024
Hsiao Bi-khim
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 7 1971.
Democratic Progressive Party
2024 – present
People’s Republic of China
Chairman of the Central People’s Government
Mao Zedong
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 26 1893; d. September 9 1976.
Communist Party of China
1949 – 1954
Chairman of the People’s Republic of China
Mao Zedong
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 26 1893; d. September 9 1976.
Communist Party of China
1954 – 1959
President of the People’s Republic of China
Li Xiannian
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 23 1909; d. June 21 1992.
Communist Party of China
1983 – 1988
Yang Shangkun
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 3 1907; d. September 14 1998.
Communist Party of China
1988 – 1993
Jiang Zemin
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 17 1926; d. November 30 2022.
Premiers: Li Peng (1993 – 1998); Zhu Rongji (1998 – 2003).
Other prominent offices: Mayor of Shanghai (1985 – 1988); Party Secretary of Shanghai (1987 – 1989); General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (1989 – 2004); Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China (1989 – 2004).
Communist Party of China
1993 – 2003
Hu Jintao
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 21 1942.
Premier: Wen Jiabao.
Other prominent offices: Party Secretary of Guizhou (1985 – 1988); Party Secretary of Tibet (1988 – 1992); Vice President of the People’s Republic of China (1998 – 2003); General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (2002 – 2012); President of the People’s Republic of China (2003 – 2013); Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China (2004 – 2012); Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China (2005 – 2013).
Communist Party of China
2003 – 2013
Xi Jinping
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 23 1909; d. June 21 1992.
Premiers: Li Keqiang (2013 – 2023); Li Qiang (2023 – present).
Other prominent offices: Governor of Fujian (1999 – 2002); Governor of Zhejiang (2002 – 2003); Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (2002 – 2007); Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (2007); Vice President of the People’s Republic of China (2008 – 2013); Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China (2012 – present); General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (2012 – present); Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China (2013 – present); Supreme Commander of the People’s Liberation Army (2016 – present).
Communist Party of China
2013 – present
Vice President of the People’s Republic of China
Wang Zhen
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 11 1908; d. March 12 1993.
Communist Party of China
1988 – 1993
Rong Yiren
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1916; d. October 26 2005.
Communist Party of China
1993 – 1998
Hu Jintao
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 21 1942.
Communist Party of China
1998 – 2003
Zeng Qinghong
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 30 1939.
Communist Party of China
2003 – 2008
Xi Jinping
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 23 1909; d. June 21 1992.
Communist Party of China
2008 – 2013
Wang Qishan
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 19 1948.
Communist Party of China
2018 – 2023
Heads of Government of China
Republic of China
Premier of the Republic of China
V.K. Wellington Koo
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 29 1888; d. November 14 1985.
Independent
1924
V.K. Wellington Koo (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 29 1888; d. November 14 1985.
Independent
1926 – 1927
V.K. Wellington Koo
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 29 1888; d. November 14 1985.
Independent
1927
Premier of the National Government of the Republic of China
Chiang Kai-shek
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 31 1887; d. April 5 1975.
Kuomintang
1930 – 1931
Chiang Kai-shek
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 31 1887; d. April 5 1975.
Kuomintang
1935 – 1938
Chiang Kai-shek
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 31 1887; d. April 5 1975.
Kuomintang
1939 – 1945
Chiang Kai-shek
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 31 1887; d. April 5 1975.
Kuomintang
1947
Premier of the Republic of China
Chiang Ching-kuo
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 27 1910; d. January 13 1988.
Kuomintang
1972 – 1978
Yu Kuo-hwa
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 10 1914; d. October 4 2000.
Kuomintang
1984 – 1989
Lee Huan
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 8 1917; d. December 2 2010.
Kuomintang
1989 – 1990
Hau Pei-tsun
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 8 1919; d. March 30 2020.
Kuomintang
1990 – 1993
Lien Chan
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 27 1936.
Kuomintang
1993 – 1997
Siew Wan-chang
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1939.
Kuomintang
1997 – 2000
Tang Fei
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 15 1932.
Kuomintang
2000
Chang Chun-hsiung
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 23 1938; d. September 27 2025.
Democratic Progressive Party
2000 – 2002
You Si-kun
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 25 1948.
Democratic Progressive Party
2002 – 2005
Frank Hsieh Chang-ting
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 18 1946.
Democratic Progressive Party
2005 – 2006
Su Tseng-chang
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 28 1948.
Democratic Progressive Party
2006 – 2007
Chang Chun-hsiung
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 23 1938; September 27 2025.
Democratic Progressive Party
2007 – 2008
Liu Chao-shiuan
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 10 1943.
Kuomintang
2008 – 2009
Wu Den-yih
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 30 1948.
Kuomintang
2009 – 2012
Lin Chuan
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 13 1951.
Independent
2016 – 2017
Lai Ching-te
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 6 1959.
Democratic Progressive Party
2017 – 2019
Su Tseng-chang
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 28 1948.
Democratic Progressive Party
2019 – 2023
Chen Chien-jen
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 6 1951.
Democratic Progressive Party
2023 – 2024
Cho Jung-tai
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 22 1959.
Democratic Progressive Party
2024 – present
Vice Premier of the Republic of China
Chiang Ching-kuo
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 27 1910; d. January 13 1988.
Kuomintang
1969 – 1972
Lien Chan
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 27 1936.
Kuomintang
1987 – 1988
Liu Chao-shiuan
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 10 1943.
Kuomintang
1997 – 2000
Chang Chun-hsiung
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 23 1938; d. September 27 2025.
Democratic Progressive Party
2000
You Si-kun
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 25 1948.
Democratic Progressive Party
2000
Lai In-jaw
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 24 1946.
Democratic Progressive Party
2000 – 2002
Tsai Ing-wen
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 31 1956.
Democratic Progressive Party
2006 – 2007
Chiou I-jen
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 9 1950.
Democratic Progressive Party
2007 – 2008
Chang Chun-hsiung (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 23 1938; d. September 27 2025.
Democratic Progressive Party
2008
Chiu Cheng-hsiung
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 19 1942; d. July 2025.
Kuomintang
2008 – 2009
Eric Li-luan Chu
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 7 1961.
Kuomintang
2009 – 2010
People’s Republic of China
Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China
Zhou Enlai
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 5 1898; d. January 8 1976.
Communist Party of China
1949 – 1976
Hua Guofeng
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 16 1921; d. August 20 2008.
Communist Party of China
1976 – 1980
Zhao Ziyang
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 17 1919; d. January 17 2005.
Communist Party of China
1980 – 1987
Li Peng
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 20 1928; d. July 22 2019.
Communist Party of China
1988 – 1998
Zhu Rongji
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 23 1928.
Communist Party of China
1998 – 2003
Wen Jiabao
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 15 1942.
Communist Party of China
2003 – 2013
Li Keqiang
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 3 1955; d. October 27 2023.
Communist Party of China
2013 – 2023
Li Qiang
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 1959.
Communist Party of China
2023 – present
First-Ranking Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China
Chen Yun
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 13 1905; d. April 10 1995.
Communist Party of China
1954 – 1965
Deng Xiaoping
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 22 1904; d. February 19 1997.
Communist Party of China
1975 – 1976
Li Xiannian
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 23 1909; d. June 21 1992.
Communist Party of China
1976 – 1977
Deng Xiaoping
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 22 1904; d. February 19 1997.
Communist Party of China
1977 – 1980
Zhu Rongji
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 23 1928.
Communist Party of China
1993 – 1998
Huang Ju
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 28 1938; d. June 2 2007.
Communist Party of China
2003 – 2007
Li Keqiang
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 3 1955; d. October 27 2023.
Communist Party of China
2008 – 2013