Zhou Enlai Biography and Timeline

Birth of Zhou Enlai

Zhou Enlai is born in Huai'an, Jiangsu, into a family with roots in Shaoxing.

Nankai School Graduation

Graduates from Nankai School before travelling to Japan for further study.

Study in Japan

Travels to Japan for further study after completing his education at Nankai.

May Fourth Movement

Takes part in student activism associated with the May Fourth movement and campaigns against foreign privileges.

Awakening Society

Helps organise the Awakening Society, a student political group in Tianjin.

Return to China

Returns to China and becomes active in the student movement in Tianjin.

Student Movement Arrest

Is detained during a crackdown on student activism in Tianjin.

Departure for Europe

Travels to Europe and becomes involved with Chinese student and revolutionary networks.

European Chinese Communist Youth Organisation

Helps organise a communist youth organisation among Chinese activists in Europe and takes responsibility for propaganda work.

Joins Chinese Communist Party

Joins the Chinese Communist Party while active among Chinese revolutionaries in Europe.

Return from Europe

Returns to China from Europe and enters the First United Front political environment.

Whampoa Military Academy

Becomes a leading political officer at the Whampoa Military Academy during the First United Front.

Marriage to Deng Yingchao

Marries Deng Yingchao, his longtime political partner and fellow revolutionary activist.

Northern Expedition Political Work

Performs political and organisational work as the Northern Expedition expands Nationalist-Communist military operations.

Shanghai Workers Armed Uprising

Helps direct the successful workers' armed uprising in Shanghai before Nationalist forces turn against the Communists.

Shanghai Purge Aftermath

Continues underground Communist work after Chiang Kai-shek's forces suppress Communist and labour organisations in Shanghai.

Nanchang Uprising

Takes a leading role in organising the Nanchang Uprising against Nationalist authority.

Role range: 1927-1949

Sixth CCP Congress

Attends the Sixth National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Moscow.

Election to Politburo

Is elected to the Communist Party Politburo following the Sixth Party Congress.

Underground Party Work

Directs clandestine Communist organisation while operating under Nationalist repression in Shanghai.

Arrival at Ruijin

Arrives at the Communist central base in Ruijin and assumes senior party responsibilities.

Central Soviet Area Leadership

Serves as secretary of the Communist Party organisation in the Central Soviet area.

Central Revolutionary Military Commission

Takes senior responsibilities in the Communist military leadership in the Jiangxi Soviet.

Role range: 1927-1949

Long March Departure

Leaves the Jiangxi base with the Red Army as the Long March begins.

Role range: 1927-1949

Zunyi Conference

Participates in the Zunyi Conference and supports changes in Communist military and political leadership.

Meeting with Zhang Xueliang

Meets Zhang Xueliang and discusses ending civil conflict in order to resist Japanese aggression.

Xi'an Incident Negotiations

Represents the Communist Party during negotiations following the detention of Chiang Kai-shek.

Second United Front Negotiations

Works on Communist-Nationalist cooperation against Japan after the outbreak of full-scale war.

Yangtze Bureau

Leads Communist political and united-front work through the Yangtze Bureau in wartime Wuhan.

Southern Bureau

Directs the Communist Party's Southern Bureau and wartime united-front activity in Nationalist-held territory.

Southern Anhui Incident Response

Protests Nationalist action against the New Fourth Army and works to preserve the anti-Japanese united front.

Return to Yan'an

Returns to Yan'an after years of united-front work in Nationalist-controlled cities.

Dixie Mission Contacts

Meets members of the United States Army Observer Group and discusses Communist military and political conditions.

Seventh CCP Congress

Participates in the Seventh National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.

Chongqing Peace Talks

Travels with Mao Zedong to Chongqing for negotiations with Chiang Kai-shek after Japan's surrender.

Double Tenth Agreement

Participates in negotiations culminating in the Double Tenth Agreement between Communist and Nationalist representatives.

First CPPCC Session

Participates in the opening of the first Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Appointment as Foreign Minister

Takes responsibility for the new government's foreign ministry while also serving as premier.

Role range: 1949-1958

Appointment as Premier

Becomes the first premier of the People's Republic of China when the new central government is established.

Role range: 1949-1976

Foreign Ministry Organisation

Builds the institutions and operating principles of the new People's Republic's diplomatic service.

Role range: 1949-1958