Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Energy Development in the PRC (1955–1992)

1. PRC launches Project 596 nuclear weapons program

   Jan 1, 1955Labels: Project 596

   • Britannica
   • NTI
   • WNA China

2. First Chinese atomic bomb test at Lop Nur

   Oct 16, 1964Labels: Lop Nur

   • CTBTO
   • Nuclear Archive
   • Britannica

3. First nuclear-armed missile test (DF-2A)

   Oct 27, 1966Labels: DF-2A

   • NTI
   • Nuclear Threat
   • Britannica

4. First Chinese thermonuclear (hydrogen) bomb test

   Jun 17, 1967Labels: thermonuclear test

   • Nuclear Archive
   • Bulletin
   • SASAC

5. Shift to underground nuclear testing at Lop Nur

   Sep 1, 1969Labels: Lop Nur

   • USGS
   • CTBTO
   • Nuclear Archive

6. Dong Fang Hong 1 satellite launch completes “Two Bombs, One Satellite”

   Apr 24, 1970Labels: Dong Fang

   • Britannica
   • NASA NSSDC
   • CNSA

7. First Chinese nuclear-powered submarine commissioned

   Aug 1, 1974Labels: Type 091

   • Naval Analyses
   • Changzheng 1
   • NTI

8. Construction begins on Qinshan-1 nuclear power plant

   Mar 20, 1985Labels: Qinshan-1

   • WNA Qinshan 1
   • SCIO
   • Qinshan NPP

9. Construction begins on Daya Bay Unit 1

   Aug 7, 1987Labels: Daya Bay

   • WNA DayaBay 1
   • Daya Bay
   • WNA China

10. China–IAEA safeguards agreement signed (INFCIRC/369)

    Sep 20, 1988Labels: INFCIRC 369

    • IAEA INFCIRC
    • IAEA States
    • SCIO IAEA

11. Qinshan-1 achieves first grid connection

    Dec 15, 1991Labels: Qinshan-1

    • WNA Qinshan 1
    • SCIO
    • Qinshan NPP

12. China conducts largest underground nuclear test (reported ~1 Mt)

    May 21, 1992Labels: Lop Nur

    • USGS
    • UPI Archives
    • Nuclear Archive