COMPANYHISTORIES

China

Companies based in China, and the events that shaped them.

13companies1912–1997founding years12still active1no longer operating
§ 01

China companies over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBank of China
1912
1913
TechnologyFord's moving assembly line transforms factory production.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
1925
EconomyThe Grand Ole Opry begins broadcasting from Nashville.
1927
TechnologyThe Jazz Singer ushers in the era of sound films.
TechnologyLindbergh flies the Atlantic solo, and aviation captures the public.
1928
TechnologyPenicillin is discovered, opening the age of antibiotics.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1931
EconomyThe Empire State Building rises in just over a year.
1933
EconomyThe first drive-in movie theater opens in New Jersey.
FoundedLi & Fung Limited
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1946
TechnologyENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1955
EconomyMcDonald's franchising begins, remaking fast food.
EconomyDisneyland opens and invents the modern theme park.
FoundedGuangzhou Pearl River Piano Group Ltd.
1956
TechnologyThe first transatlantic telephone cable opens.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedShanghai Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedShanghai Baosteel Group CorporationFoundedZindart Ltd.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
TechnologyThe first US in-vitro fertilization baby is born.
FoundedHaier Group Corporation
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedChina Eastern Airlines Co. Ltd.FoundedChina Southern Airlines Company Ltd.
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source challenge proprietary software.
FoundedSINA Corporation
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedChina Telecom
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedChina Life Insurance Company Limited
1996
FoundedTsingtao Brewery Group
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
1999
TechnologyNapster ignites the digital disruption of recorded music.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
TechnologyGPS opens to civilian use, turning location into a utility.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Bank of China →
Active · founded 1912 · China
Bank of China (BOC) is that country's oldest bank, and also one of its four largest banks, with assets of more than…
Li & Fung Limited →
Active · founded 1937 · People's Republic of China
During the course of its nearly 100-year history, Hong Kong-based Li & Fung Limited has grown from a simple exporter to…
Guangzhou Pearl River Piano Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 1956 · China
Guangzhou Pearl River Piano Group Ltd.
Shanghai Petrochemical Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1972 · China
With more than 55 plants, Shanghai Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation →
Active · founded 1978 · China
Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation is the Chinese government-owned holding company for a group of steel, steel…
Zindart Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1978 · China
After being acquired by Zindart, Corgi introduced Premier Models, which incorporated details not found in most die-cast…
Haier Group Corporation →
Active · founded 1984 · China
Haier Group Corporation is one of the world's top-selling makers of white goods and other home appliances.
China Eastern Airlines Co. Ltd. →
Active · founded 1988 · China
China Eastern Air Co.
China Southern Airlines Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1988 · China
China Southern Airlines Company Ltd.
SINA Corporation →
Active · founded 1993 · China
SINA Corporation (Sina) is one of China's leading Internet-based media groups, providing Chinese-language web portals…
China Telecom →
Active · founded 1994 · China
China Telecom dominates China's largest fixed-line telephone services with 95 percent of the services for 1.2 billion…
China Life Insurance Company Limited →
Active · founded 1996 · China
China Life Insurance Company Limited is the largest life insurer in the People's Republic of China.
Tsingtao Brewery Group →
Active · founded 1997 · China
Tsingtao Brewery Group is the parent of publicly traded Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited, which is renowned for its…
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