# Historical capitals of China

This is a list of historical capitals of China.

## Four Great Ancient Capitals

There are traditionally four major historical capitals of China referred to as the "Four Great Ancient Capitals of China" (simplified Chinese: 中国四大古都; traditional Chinese: 中國四大古都; pinyin: Zhōngguó Sì Dà Gǔ Dū). The four are Beijing, Nanjing, Luoyang and Xi'an (Chang'an).

## List of historical capitals of China

    Sorted in alphabetical order
* Acheng District of the city of Harbin was the capital of the Jin dynasty from 1115 to 1153. It was called Shangjing (上京; Shàngjīng; 'Upper Capital') or Huining Prefecture at the time. It was destroyed in 1157 and reestablished as a secondary capital in 1173.
* Anyang was the capital of the Shang dynasty (1600 BC – 1046 BC) at its peak. It was called Yin (殷; Yīn) by the Zhou.
* Balasagun in modern Kyrgyzstan was the capital of the Western Liao dynasty from 1134 to 1218.
* Beijing (also romanized Peking), literally meaning "Northern Capital", previously also known as Beiping, was the capital of various dynasties and regional regimes, including:
      * The state of Yan (11th century BC – 222 BC) in the Zhou dynasty, when it was called Ji (蓟; 薊; Jì).
      * The short-lived regional kingdom of Yan (911–914) established by Liu Shouguang during Five Dynasties period.
      * The Liao dynasty (907–1125), when it was a secondary capital called Yanjing (燕京; Yānjīng; 'Capital of Yan'). (Liao Lang is used as another name for Dadu during Yuan dynasty. The city is called Nanjing (南京, not to be confused with city in Jiangsu) in Liao dynasty due to the southerly location.)
      * The Jurchen-led Jin dynasty, from the 1160s to 1215, when it was called Zhongdu (中都; Zhōngdū; 'Central Capital').
      * The Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), when it was called Dadu (大都; Dàdū; 'Great Capital') in Chinese, Daidu (direct translation from Chinese) in Mongolian, and Khanbaliq ("city of the Khan") in Altaic, Mongolian and Turkic languages. Marco Polo called it Cambuluc.
      * The Ming dynasty, from 1403 to 1644, when it was called Shuntian Prefecture (顺天府; 順天府; Shùntiān Fǔ) and then later simply as Jingshi (京师; 京師; Jīngshī; 'Capital').
      * The Qing dynasty, from 1644 to 1912.
      * The Beiyang government of the Republic of China, from 1912 to 1927.
      * The People's Republic of China since 1949.
* Changchun was the capital of Japanese puppet state Manchukuo during the Japanese occupation in WWII, then named Xinjing (新京; Japanese: Shinkyō, Mandarin: Xīnjīng, literally "New Capital").
* Chengde was the summer residence and capital of the Qing dynasty from 1703 to 1820.
* Chengdu was the capital city of various regional kingdoms in ancient China:
      * State of Shu in Warring States period
      * Shu Han (AD 221–263) during the Three Kingdoms period
      * Kingdom of Cheng-Han during Eastern Jin period
      * Qiao Shu, a short-lived kingdom during Eastern Jin period
      * The kingdom of Li Shu, a short-lived regime established by Wang Xiaobo and Li Shun during Song dynasty
      * Former Shu, one of Ten Kingdoms between Tang and Song dynasties
      * Later Shu, one of Ten Kingdoms between Tang and Song dynasties
      * Da Xi established by Zhang Xianzhong during the transition between Ming and Qing dynasties
      * It was also briefly the seat of the Nationalist government of the Republic of China in late 1949 towards the end of the Chinese Civil War.
* Chongqing was the capital city of Ba State during Warring States period. Ming Yuzhen, the rebellion leader during the transition time between Yuan and Ming dynasties, established the Xia kingdom and set the capital city in Chongqing. Chongqing was also the provisional capital of the Nationalist government of the Republic of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), and briefly the seat of the Nationalist government in late 1949 towards the end of the Chinese Civil War.
* Datong was the capital of the Northern Wei dynasty from 398 to 493.
* Emin was briefly the capital of the Western Liao dynasty from 1132 to 1134.
* Fenghao, located near present-day Xi'an, was the capital of the Western Zhou dynasty from 1046 BC to 771 BC.
* Fuzhou was briefly the capital of the Southern Ming dynasty from 1645 to 1646.
* Guangzhou (also romanized Canton) was the capital of:
      * Nanyue Kingdom (204–111 BC).
      * Southern Ming dynasty from 1646 to 1647.
      * Nationalist government of the Republic of China, before 1928 and in 1949 towards the end of the Chinese Civil War.
* Hangzhou was the capital of:
      * Wuyue Kingdom (907–978) during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
      * Southern Song dynasty, from 1127$^{:67}$ to 1276, when it was called Lin'an (临安; 臨安; Lín'ān).
* Haojing was capital of Western Zhou.
* Kaifeng was the capital of various dynasties, including:
      * The state of Wei (443 BC – 225 BC) in the Zhou dynasty, when it was called Daliang.
      * Later Liang dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, from AD 913 to 923.
      * Later Jin dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, in AD 937.
      * Later Han dynasty (AD 947–951) during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
      * Later Zhou dynasty (AD 951–960) during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
      * Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), when it was called Bianjing (汴京; Biànjīng).
* Karakorum in modern Mongolia was the capital of the Northern Yuan dynasty from 1371 to 1388.
* Luoyang was the capital of various dynasties, including:
      * The Eastern Zhou dynasty, from 510 BC to 314 BC.
      * The Eastern Han dynasty from AD 25 to 190 and then briefly in AD 196.
      * The Cao Wei (AD 220–265) during the Three Kingdoms period.
      * The Western Jin dynasty, from AD 265 to 311.
      * The Northern Wei dynasty from AD 493 to 534.
      * The Wu Zhou from AD 690 to 705.
      * The Later Tang dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, from AD 923 to 936.
      * The Later Liang dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, from AD 907 to 913.
* Nanjing (also romanized Nanking), literally meaning "Southern Capital", was the capital of various dynasties and governments, including:
      * All the Six Dynasties from AD 220 to 589, when Nanjing was called Jianye (建業; Jiànyè) or Jiankang (建康; Jiànkāng). The Six Dynasties were:
         * Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period, from AD 229 to 265, and then from AD 266 to 280.
         * Eastern Jin dynasty, from AD 317 to 420.
         * Liu Song dynasty (AD 420–479)
         * Southern Qi dynasty (AD 479–502)
         * Liang dynasty, from AD 502 to 552, and then from AD 555 to 557.
         * Chen dynasty (AD 557–589)
      * The Southern Tang dynasty (AD 937–976) during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, when it was called Jiangning Prefecture (江宁府; 江寧府; Jiāngníng Fǔ)
      * The Ming dynasty, from 1368 to 1644, when it was also called Yingtian Prefecture (应天府; 應天府; Yìngtiān Fǔ)
      * The Southern Ming dynasty from 1644 to 1645.
      * The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851–1864) during the Taiping Rebellion in the Qing dynasty, when it was called Tianjing (天京; Tiānjīng; 'Heavenly Capital').
      * The Nationalist government of the Republic of China from 1928 to 1949.
      * The Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China (1940–1945), a pro-Japanese collaborationist government headed by Wang Jingwei during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
* Ruijin in Jiangxi was the capital of the self-declared Chinese Soviet Republic from 1931 to 1934, the start of the Long March.
* Shaoguan, then known in English as Kukong, was the temporary capital of Nationalist controlled areas of Guangdong (then known as Kwangtung) during the Sino-Japanese war, after the fall of Guangzhou (Canton).
* Shenyang in the northern state of Liaoning briefly served as the capital of Later Jin, the predecessor of the Qing dynasty (who referred to it as Mukden) from 1625 until Qing takeover of Beijing in 1644. It was referred to as Shengjing (盛京; Shèngjīng; 'Prosperous Capital')
* Taipei in Taiwan has been the de facto capital and the seat of government of the Republic of China since 1949.
* Tongwancheng was the capital of the Hu Xia dynasty from 419 to 427.
* Wuhan was the capital of a government formed by Wang Jingwei and leftist members of the Kuomintang in 1927. It opposed the Nationalist government led by Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek. It was also briefly "provisional wartime capital" in 1937 during the Sino-Japanese war.
* Xanadu / Shangdu (上都; Shàngdū; 'Upper Capital'), located northwest of present-day Dolon Nor in Inner Mongolia, China, was the summer capital of the Yuan dynasty. After the fall of the Yuan dynasty, it briefly became the capital of the Northern Yuan dynasty between 1368 and 1369. It was destroyed in 1369.
* Xi'an (also romanized Sian), previously usually called Chang'an, and including its surrounding areas in present-day Shaanxi Province, was the capital of various dynasties, including:
      * The Western Zhou dynasty, from around 1046 BC to 771 BC. See also Fenghao.
      * The state of Qin (9th century  BC – 221 BC) and the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC). The Qin capital, called Xianyang (simplified Chinese: 咸阳; traditional Chinese: 咸陽; pinyin: Xiányáng), was located near present-day Xi'an. It was destroyed by fire in 206 BC by Xiang Yu.
      * The Western Han dynasty, from 206 BC to AD 9.
      * The Xin dynasty (AD 9–23), referred as Chang'an (常安; Cháng'ān; 'perpetually safe')
      * The Eastern Han dynasty, from AD 190 to 195.
      * The Western Jin dynasty, from AD 312 to 316.
      * The state of Former Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, from AD 318 to 329.
      * The State of Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, from AD 351 to 385.
      * The State of Later Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, from AD 384 to 417.
      * The Western Wei dynasty (AD 535–557)
      * The Northern Zhou dynasty (AD 557–581)
      * The Sui dynasty, from AD 581 to 605, referred to as Daxing (大兴; 大興; Dàxīng; 'Great Prosperity')
      * The Tang dynasty, from AD 618 to 684, and then from AD 705 to 904.
* Ye (邺; 鄴; Yè), located within the present-day city of Handan, was one of secondary capital cities of Cao Wei (220–265), and the capital city of several regional kingdoms during Eastern Jin period: Later Zhao (319–351), Ran Wei (350–352) and Former Yan (337–370). It was also the capital city of two major dynasties in Southern and Northern dynasties period: Eastern Wei dynasty (534–550), and the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577).
* Yinchuan was the capital of the Western Xia from 1038 to 1227, when it was called Xingqing (simplified Chinese: 兴庆; traditional Chinese: 興慶; pinyin: Xīngqìng).
* Yingchang was briefly the capital of the Northern Yuan dynasty from 1369 to 1370.
* Zhaoge was the secondary capital city during last years of Shang dynasty when it was ruled by King Zhou. Later, it was the capital city of Wey during the Eastern Zhou period.
* Zhaoqing was the capital of the Southern Ming dynasty from 1646 to 1662.

## Chronology

| Dynasty / Government | Dynasty / Government | Capital | Period | Notes |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Nüwa | | | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Youchao | | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Suiren | | | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Zhurong | | | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Fuxi | Chen 陳 | c. 2852–2737 BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Shennong / Yan Emperor | Lu 魯 | c. 2737–2699 BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Yellow Emperor | Xuanyuan 軒轅 | c. 2699–2588 BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Taihao | Wanqiu 宛丘 | | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Shaohao | Qiongsang 窮桑 | c. 2587–2491 BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Gonggong | | | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Zhuanxu | Gaoyang 高陽 | c. 2490 BC – 25th century BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Zhuanxu | Diqiu 帝丘 | c. 25th century BC – 2413 BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Ku | Diqiu 帝丘 | c. 2412 BC – 24th century BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Ku | Bo 亳 | c. 24th century BC – 2343 BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Zhi | Qinghua 清化 | c. 2343–2333 BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Yao | Pingyang 平陽 | c. 2333–2234 BC | |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Shun | Puban 蒲坂 | c. 2233–2184 BC | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Daxia 大夏 | Gun | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Song 崇 | Gun | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Yangcheng 陽城 | Yu | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Yangzhai 陽翟 | Yu, Qi, Taikang | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Chu 鉏 | Hou Yi | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Qiongshi 窮石 | Hou Yi, Hanzhuo | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Zhen 斟 | Taikang, Zhongkang | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Diqiu 帝丘 | Xiang, Shaokang | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Yuan 原 | Zhu | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Laoqiu 老丘 | Zhu to Jiong | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Xihe 西河 | Jin to Fa | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Zhen 斟 | Jie | |
| Xia dynasty | Xia dynasty | Henan 河南 | Jie | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Bo 亳 | Tang | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Fan 蕃 | Xie | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Dishi 砥石 | Zhaoming | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Shang 商 | Zhaoming | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Shangqiu 商邱 | Xiangtu | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Foot of Mount Tai 泰山麓 | Xiangtu | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Shangqiu 商邱 | Xiangtu | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Yin 殷 | Shanghou | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Shangqiu 商邱 | Yinhou | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Bo "西"亳 | Tang | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Xiao 囂 | Zhongding | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Xiang 相 | Hedanjia | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Xing 邢 | Zuyi | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Bi 庇 | Zuyi | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Yan 奄 | Nangeng | |
| Shang dynasty | Shang dynasty | Yin 殷 | Pangeng | |
| Zhou dynasty | Western Zhou | Zongzhou 宗周 | 1046 BC – 771 BC | Western capital |
| Zhou dynasty | Western Zhou | Chengzhou 成周 | 1039 BC – 771 BC | Eastern capital(auxiliary capital) |
| Zhou dynasty | Eastern Zhou | Chengzhou 成周 | 770 BC – 367 BC | |
| Zhou dynasty | Eastern Zhou | Henan 河南 | 367 BC – 256 BC | capital of the Western Zhou State |
| Zhou dynasty | Eastern Zhou | Gong 鞏 | 367 BC – 249 BC | capital of the Eastern Zhou State |
| Qin dynasty | Qin dynasty | Xiquanqiu 西犬丘 | | |
| Qin dynasty | Qin dynasty | Pingyang 平陽 | – 677 BC | |
| Qin dynasty | Qin dynasty | Yong 雍 | 677 BC – | |
| Qin dynasty | Qin dynasty | Jingyang 涇陽 | – 383 BC | |
| Qin dynasty | Qin dynasty | Yueyang 櫟陽 | 383 BC – 250 BC | |
| Qin dynasty | Qin dynasty | Xianyang 咸陽 | 350 BC – 207 BC | |
| Han dynasty | Western Han | Luoyang 雒陽 | 202 BC | |
| Han dynasty | Western Han | Yueyang 櫟陽 | 202 BC – 200 BC | |
| Han dynasty | Western Han | Chang'an 長安 | 200 BC – 8 BC | |
| Xin dynasty | Xin dynasty | Chang'an 常安 | AD 8–23 | |
| Han dynasty | Eastern Han | Luoyang 雒陽 | AD 25–190 | |
| Han dynasty | Eastern Han | Chang'an 長安 | 191–195 | |
| Han dynasty | Eastern Han | Xu 許 | 196–220 | |
| Three Kingdoms period | Cao Wei | Luoyang 洛陽 | 220–265 | |
| Three Kingdoms period | Shu Han | Chengdu 成都 | 221–263 | |
| Three Kingdoms period | Eastern Wu | Jianye 建業 | 227–279 | |
| Jin dynasty | Western Jin | Luoyang 洛陽 | 265–313 | |
| Jin dynasty | Western Jin | Chang'an 長安 | 313–316 | |
| Jin dynasty | Eastern Jin | Jiankang 建康 | 317–420 | |
| Northern dynasties | Northern Wei | Pingcheng 平城 | 386–493 | |
| Northern dynasties | Northern Wei | Luoyang 洛陽 | 493–534 | |
| Northern dynasties | Eastern Wei | Ye 鄴 | 534–550 | |
| Northern dynasties | Western Wei | Chang'an 長安 | 535–557 | |
| Northern dynasties | Northern Qi | Ye 鄴 | 550–577 | |
| Northern dynasties | Northern Zhou | Chang'an 長安 | 557–581 | |
| Southern dynasties | Liu Song | Jiankang 建康 | 420–479 | |
| Southern dynasties | Southern Qi | Jiankang 建康 | 479–502 | |
| Southern dynasties | Liang dynasty | Jiankang 建康 | 502–557 | |
| Southern dynasties | Chen dynasty | Jiankang 建康 | 557–589 | |
| Sui dynasty | Sui dynasty | Daxing 大興 | 581–618 | auxiliary capital (605–618) |
| Sui dynasty | Sui dynasty | Dongdu 東都 | 605–618 | |
| Tang dynasty | Tang dynasty | Chang'an 長安 | 618–690 | |
| Tang dynasty | Tang dynasty | Luoyang 洛陽 | 657–690 | auxiliary capital |
| Wu Zhou | Wu Zhou | Luoyang 洛陽 | 690–705 | |
| Tang dynasty (restored) | Tang dynasty (restored) | Chang'an 長安 | 705–904 | |
| Tang dynasty (restored) | Tang dynasty (restored) | Luoyang 洛陽 | 705–736 | auxiliary capital |
| Tang dynasty (restored) | Tang dynasty (restored) | Luoyang 洛陽 | 904–907 | |
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period | Later Liang | Dongdu 東都 | 907–923 | |
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period | Later Tang | Dongdu 東都 | 923–936 | |
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period | Later Jin | Dongjing 東京 | 936–947 | |
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period | Later Han | Dongjing 東京 | 947–950 | |
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period | Later Zhou | Dongjing 東京 | 951–960 | |
| Song dynasty | Northern Song | Dongjing 東京 | 960–1127 | |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Nanjing 南京 | 1127–1129 | After the fall of Dongjing, Zhao Gou declares himself emperor in Henan |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Yangzhou 揚州 | 1129–1130 | Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129–1130. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Zhenjiang 鎮江 | 1129–1130 | Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129–1130. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Lin'an 臨安 | 1129–1130 | Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129–1130. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Yuezhou 越州 | 1129–1130 | Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129–1130. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Mingzhou 明州 | 1129–1130 | Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129–1130. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Dinghai 定海 | 1129–1130 | Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129–1130. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Off the coast Taizhou, Wenzhou "海上朝廷" | 1129–1130 | Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129–1130. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Zhang'an 章安 | 1129–1130 | Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129–1130. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Yuezhou 越州 | 1129–1130 | Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129–1130. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Lin'an 臨安 | 1130–1276 | Song court settles in Lin'an for 146 years |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Fuzhou 福州 | 1276–1277 | Flight of Emperor Duanzong along the southeast coast following the fall of Lin'an in 1276. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Guangzhou 廣州 | 1277–1278 | Flight of Emperor Duanzong along the southeast coast following the fall of Lin'an in 1276. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Guanfuchang 官富場 | 1278 | Flight of Emperor Duanzong along the southeast coast following the fall of Lin'an in 1276. |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Gangzhou 碙州 | 1278 | Emperor Bingzong succeeds Duanzong on Lantau Island in modern Hong Kong |
| Song dynasty | Southern Song | Yashan 崖山 | 1278–1279 | Song court makes last stand off the coast of Yashan |
| Liao dynasty | Liao dynasty | Shangjing 上京 | 907–1120 | |
| Liao dynasty | Liao dynasty | Nanjing 南京 | 1122–1123 | |
| Western Liao | Western Liao | Emin 葉密立 | 1132–1134 | |
| Western Liao | Western Liao | Balasagun 虎思斡耳朵 | 1134–1218 | |
| Jin dynasty | Jin dynasty | Shangjing 上京 | 1115–1153 | |
| Jin dynasty | Jin dynasty | Zhongdu 中都 | 1153–1214 | |
| Jin dynasty | Jin dynasty | Nanjing 南京 | 1214–1234 | |
| Western Xia | Western Xia | Xingqing 興慶 | 1038–1227 | |
| Yuan dynasty | Yuan dynasty | Shangdu 上都 | May 1264 – 1267 | |
| Yuan dynasty | Yuan dynasty | Dadu 大都 | 1267 – August 1368 | |
| Northern Yuan | Northern Yuan | Shangdu 上都 | August 1368 – 1369 | |
| Northern Yuan | Northern Yuan | Yingchang 應昌 | 1369–1370 | |
| Northern Yuan | Northern Yuan | Karakorum 哈拉和林 | 1371–1388 | |
| Ming dynasty | Ming dynasty | Nanjing 南京 | 23 January 1368 – 2 February 1421 | |
| Ming dynasty | Ming dynasty | Beijing 北京 | 2 February 1421 – 25 April 1644 | |
| Southern Ming | Southern Ming | Nanjing 南京 | 1644 – 1645 | |
| Southern Ming | Southern Ming | Fuzhou 福州 | 1645 – 1646 | |
| Southern Ming | Southern Ming | Guangzhou 廣州 | 1646 – 1647 | |
| Southern Ming | Southern Ming | Zhaoqing 肇慶 | 1646 – 25 April 1662 | |
| Later Jin | Later Jin | Fe Ala 費阿拉 | 1587–1603 | |
| Later Jin | Later Jin | Hetu Ala 赫圖阿拉 | 1603–1619 | |
| Later Jin | Later Jin | Jiefan 界凡 | 1619 – September 1620 | |
| Later Jin | Later Jin | Sarhu 薩爾滸 | September 1620 – April 1621 | |
| Later Jin | Later Jin | Dongjing 東京 | April 1621 – 11 April 1625 | |
| Later Jin | Later Jin | Shengjing 盛京 | 11 April 1625 – 1636 | |
| Qing dynasty | Qing dynasty | Shengjing 盛京 | 1636 – 30 October 1644 | |
| Qing dynasty | Qing dynasty | Beijing 北京 | 30 October 1644 – 12 February 1912 | |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Nanjing 南京 | 1 January 1912 – 2 April 1912 | Provisional Government |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Beijing 北京 | 2 April 1912 – 30 May 1928 | Beiyang government |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Fengtian 奉天 | 30 May 1928 – 29 December 1928 | Beiyang government |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Guangzhou 廣州 | 1 July 1925 – 21 February 1927 | Guangzhou Nationalist Government |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Wuhan 武漢 | 21 February 1927 – 19 August 1927 | Wuhan Nationalist Government |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Nanjing 南京 | 18 April 1927 – 20 November 1937 | the Nanjing decade |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Luoyang 洛陽 | 29 Jan 1932 – 1 December 1932 | |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Beijing 北平 | 9 September 1930 – 23 September 1930 | Beiping Nationalist Government |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Taiyuan 太原 | 23 September 1930 – 4 November 1930 | Beiping Nationalist Government |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Guangzhou 廣州 | 28 May 1931 – 22 December 1931 | Guangzhou Nationalist Government |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Chongqing 重慶 | 21 November 1937 – 5 May 1946 | during the Second Sino-Japanese War |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Nanjing 南京 | 30 March 1940 – 10 August 1945 | Wang Jingwei Government |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Nanjing 南京 | 5 May 1946 – 1 May 1991 | From 23 April 1949 to 1 May 1991, Nanjing was the claimed capital of the Republic of China |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Guangzhou 廣州 | 23 April 1949 – 14 October 1949 | during the Chinese Civil War |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Chongqing 重慶 | 14 October 1949 – 30 November 1949 | during the Chinese Civil War |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Chengdu 成都 | 30 November 1949 – 27 December 1949 | during the Chinese Civil War |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Xichang 西昌 | 27 December 1949 – 27 March 1950 | during the Chinese Civil War |
| Republic of China | Republic of China | Taipei 台北 | 10 December 1949 – Present | Established as capital following the Republic of China retreat to Taiwan |
| Chinese Soviet Republic People's Republic of China | Chinese Soviet Republic People's Republic of China | Ruijin 瑞金 | 7 November 1931 – 10 October 1934 | Establishments of the Chinese Soviet Republic |
| Chinese Soviet Republic People's Republic of China | Chinese Soviet Republic People's Republic of China | Bao'an 保安 | July 1936 – January 1937 | From 1934 to 1936, the Long March occurred. |
| Chinese Soviet Republic People's Republic of China | Chinese Soviet Republic People's Republic of China | Yan'an 延安 | January 1937 – 22 September 1937 | CSR dissolves in the midst of the formation of the Second United Front |
| Chinese Soviet Republic People's Republic of China | Chinese Soviet Republic People's Republic of China | Beijing 北京 | 1 October 1949 – Present | |