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 ("Guangzhou").
 * 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 (approximate).
 * Population: 400,000 (estimate).
 * 1894
 * Plague (3rd Pandemic).
 * Chen Clan Academy built.
 * 1895 – 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 (called Shake in Cantonese)
 * 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 (estimate).
 * 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 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.