How did China's territory change over time?

The first unified Chinese state was established by the Qin dynasty, but it quickly collapsed, leading to the rise of the Han dynasty, which reunited and expanded China. After its fall, the country split during the Three Kingdoms period before being reunified again, continuing a long pattern of division and consolidation across multiple dynasties.

This cycle continued through centuries, including the period of Mongol rule under the Yuan dynasty. After the Mongols were overthrown, the Ming dynasty restored Chinese rule, followed by the Qing dynasty, which expanded China to its greatest territorial extent.

After the fall of the Qing dynasty, China entered a period of instability marked by internal conflict and foreign invasion. The Chinese Civil War between the Nationalists and Communists was interrupted by the Japanese invasion during World War II. Although Japan occupied large parts of China, it never fully conquered the country and eventually surrendered, after which China regained control of territories such as Manchuria.

The civil war then resumed, ending with a Communist victory. The Nationalists retreated to Taiwan, while the Communists established the People’s Republic of C