History of Tianjin -- Heavenly Ford
	1403 - 1425 1656, July  9th 1840, Aug. 9th 1860, Aug. 1866 1875 1876 1878 1879 1880 1881, Dec. 24th 1885 1886 1888 1889 1890 1894, Mar. 10th 1895 1897 1900, June 15th          July  14th 1901, Mar. 1902, June          Aug. 15th          Oct. 28th 1903 1904, April 1906 1909 1910 1911, Dec. 1st 1912, Jan.  1st          Jan.  29th          Aug. 23rd 1916, April 13th 1917, Mar. 14th          July          Aug. 14th          Sep. 1919, May  4th 1920, Sep. 25th 1922, Nov. 3rd 1924, Oct. 5th          Dec. 4th 1925, Feb. 23rd 1927, April 22nd 1930, Jan.  15th 1931 1934 1936 1937, July  30th 1941, Dec. 8th 1943, Jan.  11th          Feb. 23rd 1945, Oct. 6th          Nov. 24th 1949, Jan. 15th Tianjin initiated to be a town by Emperor Yongle of Ming Dynasty. First Dutch Embassy arrived at Tianjin. In the first Opium War, British forces invaded Dagu Forts. The Opium War II broke out and Tianjin was finally forced to open to the world. British, French and American Concession ceded. Tianjin Mechanism Bureau established, making it the first arsenal in China. Peiyang Navy, the first modern navy in China, began training in Tianjin. Kai Ping Colliery, the first mechanized colliery in China, established in Tianjin and put into production next year. The first post office in China established at Tianjin. The first set of stamps in China, called the Big Dragon Stamp, printed at Tianjin. The first telegraph wire in China, from Tianjin to Da Gu and Bei Tang, opened in Tianjin. The teleline spanned by Merchant Bureau from Da Gu to the warehouse in Zi Zhu Lin, the first one spanned by Chinese natives, opened in Tianjin. The first elementary submarine in China successfully manufactured by Tianjin Machinery Bureau. The first locomotive in China, named China Rocket, finally finished by Kai Ping Colliery in Tianjin. Convention signed at Tianjin between China and Japan settling the difference arising out of the disturbances at Seoul, Korea, in Dec.1884. Peiyang Defense School, the first military college to foster the talents for land forces in China, originated in Tianjin. The first manned hydrogen balloon in China, made by Hua Hengfang, Chinese scientist, took off from Tianjin. The first for-profit railway in China, from Tianjin to Tangshan, finished in Tianjin. Jin Hua Bridge, the first modern openable iron bridge, built across the South Canal in front of the villa of Zhi Li general governor. Gordon Hall, the largest concession city hall in treaty ports in China, finished in Tianjin. Monetary Bureau, the first mill for minting by machine in China, put into production in Tianjin. The first school to introduce Western medicine in China originated in Tianjin. The first modern university in China, Peiyang University (Tianjin University), opened in Tianjin. Japanese and German Concession ceded. The Railway Engineering Department in the Northern Defense School in Tianjin, the first special school to train professional railway skills in China, began to recruit students. Catholic Cathedral Notre Dame des Victoria at Tianjin burnt and the first attacks by Boxers was made on settlements and station that evening. Tianjin Native City captured by the Eight-Power Allied Forces. Russian, Italian and Austro-Hungarian Concessions started. Belgian Concession started. Tianjin City formally transferred to Chinese Authorities represented by Yuan Shi-Kai. The first police system, as well as the first college to train police officers, Tianjin Police School, established in Tianjin. American Settlement at Tianjin formally annexed to British Concession. Peiyang Guan Bao, the first governmental newspaper, originated in Tianjin. Ta Kung Bao, the newspaper with the longest history in China, began publishing in Tianjin. Presently, it continues being published in Hong Kong. International Bridge constructed. The first tramway in China, run by Tianjin Tramway & Electric Lights Belgian Co., started operations. Monetary Producing Bureau, the first state owned mint in China, established in Tianjin. Peiyang Law and Politics College, the first college to teach politics and law in China, established in Tianjin. China Geoscience Institute, the first non-governmental scientific organization, originated in Tianjin. Geoscience Magazine, the first modern geographic publication in China, began publishing in Tianjin. Beijing,Tianjin and Baoding Branch of Tong Meng Hui established in Italian Concession at Tianjin. Republic of China established. Sun Yet-Sen became the first President. Tong Meng Hui revolted at Tianjin. Dr. Sun Yet-Sen arrived at Tianjin. Secession Southern Provinces. China breaks off relations with Germany, and takes over German Concession of Tianjin. General Zhang Xun announced the restoration of the Manchu Dynasty and is defeated. China declares War on Germany and Austro-Hungary, and takes over Austrian Concession same day. Great Flood inundated the Japanese, French and English Concessions. Chiu Ta Salt Refining Co., the first refined salt manufactory in China, originated in Tianjin. Wu Si Patriotic Movement (The May Fourth Movement) in Beijing. Nan Kai University, the first private university in China, established in Tianjin. The Russian Concession in Tianjin finally taken over by the Chinese Authorities at midday. The trial flight of the first airmail line in China from Tianjin to Beijing. Electric Power Plant recently erected as British Municipal enterprise, began operations. The Musee Hong Ho Bai Ho, the earliest natural history museum in China, established in Tianjin. The first and the largest alkali-producing corporation as well, Yung Li Chemical Industries, originated in Tianjin. The Red Flag hoisted at Russian Legation at Beijing and at the Russian Consulate at Tianjin. Dr. Sun Yet-Sen arrived in Tianjin. Manchu Emperor Xuan Tong left the Forbidden City for Tianjin. The Nationalist Government of the Republic of China established in Nanjing. The first automatic telephone switchboard in China put into use in the Italian Concession in Tianjin. The Belgian Concession in Tianjin taken over by the Chinese Authorities. The first glider in China made by Hebei Automobile School in Tianjin. The first aero engine successfully trial-manufactured by the Peiyang Industrial Institute in Tianjin. The first automatic telephone produced by Tianjin Zhong Tian Electrical Machinery Plant. Tianjin occupied by the Japanese. The Pacific War broke out. Japan dispatched troops into British and French Concessions and took over the British Concession. Tianjin British Concession stipulated by the treaty signed by the Nationalist Government of China and British Government. Tianjin French Concession taken over by Chinese Authorities. The surrendering ceremony of the Japanese army. The British, French, Italian and Japanese Concessions formally taken over by Chinese Authorities. Tianjin liberated by the People's Liberation Army.