January
* _January 15_ - Zhao Ziyang, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, visits Burma (Myanmar) and meets with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
* _January 16_ - Jiang Zemin is appointed mayor of Shanghai, replacing Zhu Rongji.
* _January 20_ - Thousands of students gather in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to commemorate the death of former Premier Zhou Enlai and to call for democratic reforms.
* _January 23_ - The Chinese government imposes martial law in Beijing in an attempt to quell the student protests.
* _January 26_ - The People's Liberation Army (PLA) opens fire on unarmed protesters in Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds and injuring thousands.
February
* _February 4_ - The Chinese government announces that it will hold a National People's Congress (NPC) meeting to discuss the situation in China.
* _February 10_ - The NPC convenes and approves the government's decision to impose martial law in Beijing.
* _February 25_ - Zhao Ziyang is removed from office as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and is replaced by Jiang Zemin.
March
* _March 3_ - The Chinese government issues regulations restricting student demonstrations.
* _March 12_ - The PLA begins withdrawing from Beijing.
* _March 20_ - Deng Xiaoping, the paramount leader of China, meets with foreign journalists and defends the government's actions in Tiananmen Square.
* _March 26_ - The Chinese government announces that it will hold a trial of several student leaders involved in the Tiananmen Square protests.
April
* _April 15_ - The trials of the student leaders begin in Beijing.
* _April 16_ - The United States imposes sanctions on China in response to the Tiananmen Square massacre.
* _April 20_ - The student leaders are found guilty and sentenced to prison terms.
May
* _May 4_ - Students at several universities in China hold protests to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
* _May 17_ - The Chinese government announces that it will release several political prisoners.
* _May 19_ - The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, announces his support for the pro-democracy movement in China.
June
* _June 4_ - The first anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre is marked by protests in China and around the world.
* _June 20_ - The Chinese government announces that it will hold a summit meeting with the United States to discuss the Tiananmen Square massacre.
July
* _July 4_ - The United States and China hold a summit meeting in Beijing. The two countries agree to improve their relations despite their differences over human rights.
August
* _August 1_ - The Chinese government issues regulations tightening controls over the media.
* _August 15_ - The Chinese government announces that it will open an investigation into the deaths of students in the Tiananmen Square massacre.
September
* _September 1_ - The Chinese government releases a report on the Tiananmen Square massacre, but it does not acknowledge any wrongdoing by the PLA.
* _September 20_ - The United States Congress passes a resolution condemning the Chinese government for its human rights record.
October
* _October 1_ - The Chinese government announces that it will hold a five-year plan to improve the economy and raise living standards.
* _October 10_ - Jiang Zemin is elected President of China by the NPC.
* _October 20_ - The Dalai Lama is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to promote peace and nonviolence.
November
* _November 4_ - The Berlin Wall falls, marking the end of the Cold War.
* _November 15_ - The Chinese government announces that it will hold a national census to determine the population of China.
December
* _December 1_ - The Chinese government issues regulations restricting the activities of foreign journalists in China.
* _December 10_ - The Dalai Lama meets with President Bush in the White House.
* _December 31_ - The Chinese government announces that the population of China has reached 1.1 billion people.