List of nuclear weapons tests of China#List

{{Infobox nuclear weapons test

|name = Chinese nuclear weapon tests

|picture = File:1965-01_1964年_首次原子弹爆炸2.jpg

|picture_description = Project 596 was the first ever Chinese nuclear explosion.

|country = China

|test_site = Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China; Area B (Qinggir), Lop Nur, China; Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China; Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China

|period = 1964–1996

|number_of_tests = 47

|test_type = air drop, atmospheric, cratering, high alt rocket (30–80 km), parachuted, tower, underground, underground shaft, tunnel

|max_yield = {{convert|4|MtTNT|lk=in}}

}}

The list of nuclear weapons tests is a listing of nuclear tests conducted by the People's Republic of China from 1964 through 1996. Most listings show 45 tests in the series with 45 devices, with 23 tests being atmospheric. All tests were conducted in the remote location of Lop Nur, Xinjiang.{{cite web| title=China's nuclear tests| publisher=Monterey Institute of International Studies| url=http://cns.miis.edu/archive/country_china/coxrep/testlist.htm| access-date=15 August 2014| archive-url=https://archive.today/20131205083146/http://cns.miis.edu/archive/country_china/coxrep/testlist.htm| archive-date=5 December 2013| url-status=dead}} Discrepancies between this list and the list below include two unnumbered failed tests and a test that later was disclosed to be a salvo test of two devices.

List

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ China's nuclear test series tests and detonations
style="background:#ffdead;" \| Name The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known. !style="background:#efefef;" \| Date time (UTC) !style="background:#efefef;" \| LocationRough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area. !style="background:#ffdead;" \| Elevation + height Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together. !style="background:#efefef;" \| Delivery, Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use. Purpose Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down. !style="background:#efefef;" \| DeviceDesignations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed. !style="background:#ffdead;" \| YieldEstimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie). !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" \| FalloutRadioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released. !style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable" \| References !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" \| Notes
596{{anchor\|Project 596}} \| {{dts\|format=dmy\|1964\|10\|16}} 07:00:?? \| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord\|40.81246\|89.7901\|name=Project 596\|display=inline}} \| {{sort\|000909

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ China's nuclear test series tests and detonations

style="background:#ffdead;" | Name The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.

!style="background:#efefef;" | Date time (UTC)

!style="background:#efefef;" | LocationRough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.

!style="background:#ffdead;" | Elevation + height Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.

!style="background:#efefef;" | Delivery, Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.
Purpose Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.

!style="background:#efefef;" | DeviceDesignations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed.

!style="background:#ffdead;" | YieldEstimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).

!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | FalloutRadioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released.

!style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable" | References

!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Notes

596{{anchor|Project 596}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1964|10|16}} 07:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord|40.81246|89.7901|name=Project 596|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000909

}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|102|m|abbr=on}}

| tower,

| "596" or NGB

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000220000|22 kt}}

| {{cite web |last=Gaulkin |first=Thomas |date=2024-04-11 |title=The short march to China’s hydrogen bomb |url=https://thebulletin.org/2024/04/the-short-march-to-chinas-hydrogen-bomb/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists}}{{cite web |date=2009-11-23 |title=新中国60年核能发展大事记 |url=https://www.chinare.com.cn/zghbxgtt/hgtdt/2022010703523039331/index.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=中国再保 |language=zh}}

| China's first nuclear test. U-235 implosion fission device. UD₃ neutron initiator. The device weighed {{convert|1550|kg|abbr=on}}. No plutonium was available at that time.

! CHIC-2{{anchor|CHIC-2}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1965|5|14}} 02:00:??, or {{dts|format=dmy|1965|5|13}}In 1969 the date was identified as 13 May 1965 by

an Australian journalist who described the first seven of China's nuclear tests. See: {{cite news|title=The first Western look at the secret H-bomb centre in China|journal=The Toronto Star|date=August 9, 1969|page=10|author=Francis James}}. Or see the related article in The Sunday Times of June 15, 1969.

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=CHIC-2|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001307|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}}

| air drop,

| NGB

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000350000|35 kt}}

| Militarized version of 596 dropped by Hong-6.

! 596L{{anchor|CHIC-3}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|5|9}} 08:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord|40.7864|89.727|name=CHIC-3|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| air drop,

| "596L"

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|002500000|250 kt}}

| First use of lithium-6 in a sloika-like design. Said to have dropped on a {{convert|640|ft|abbr=on}} white circle.

! CHIC-4{{anchor|CHIC-4}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|10|27}} 01:10:??

| Launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China {{coord|41.30782|100.31528|name=Launch_CHIC-4|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|1035|+|0|m|abbr=on}};
Detonation over Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=CHIC-4|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000569|}}N/A + {{convert|569|m|abbr=on}}

| high alt rocket (30–80 km),
weapons development

| Dongfeng-2 warhead "548"

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000120000|12 kt}}

| Delivery by CSS-1 MRBM Dong Feng-2 launched from Shuangchengzi Air Base, {{convert|894|km|abbr=on}} east of detonation.

! 629{{anchor|CHIC-5}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|12|28}} 04:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|40.7989|89.8216|name=CHIC-5|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000909|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|102|m|abbr=on}}

| tower,

"629"

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|003000000|122 kt}}

| Two-stage thermonuclear bomb design. Design yield of 100 kt. Spherical fission primary based on 596 device. Spherical thermonuclear secondary with lead tamper.

! 639{{anchor|CHIC-6}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1967|6|17}} 00:19:08.2

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord|40.744|89.775|name=CHIC-6|display=inline}}

| {{sort|003767|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} + {{convert|2960|m|abbr=on}}

| parachuted,

| "639"

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|003000000|3.3 Mt}}

|Two-stage thermonuclear modified from 629 device to full yield. Spherical fission primary. Spherical thermonuclear secondary with natural uranium tamper.

! CHIC-7{{anchor|CHIC-7}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1967|12|24}} 07:30:22.1

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=CHIC-7|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| air drop,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000200000|20 kt}}

| Fizzled thermonuke. Exact time of 07:30:22.1 verified by USAF AFTAC duty operator William Scott. Recorded air burst signal scaled by Scott the next day at Turkmen Deh, Iran. Erroneous reports exist that show a time of 04:00:00.

! CHIC-8{{anchor|CHIC-8}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1968|12|27}} 07:30:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=CHIC-8|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| air drop,

| NGB/DF-3 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|030000000|3 Mt}}

| First use of plutonium.

! CHIC-9{{anchor|CHIC-9}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1969|9|22}} 16:14:59.21

| Area B (Qinggir), Lop Nur, China {{coord|41.376|88.318|name=CHIC-9|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001440|}}{{convert|1440|m|abbr=on}} +

| tunnel,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000192000|19.2 kt}}

| Tunnel test in Nan Shan (South Mountain) that vented to surface.

! CHIC-10{{anchor|CHIC-10}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1969|9|29}} 08:40:12.36

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord|40.722|89.515|name=CHIC-10|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| air drop,

| NGB/DF-3 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|030000000|3 Mt}}

! CHIC-11{{anchor|CHIC-11}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1970|10|14}} 07:29:56.91

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord|40.52|89.779|name=CHIC-11|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| air drop,

| NGB/DF-3 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|034000000|3.4 Mt}}

! CHIC-12{{anchor|CHIC-12}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1971|11|18}} 06:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=CHIC-12|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| cratering,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000200000|20 kt}}

| Only Chinese cratering test.

! CHIC-13{{anchor|CHIC-13}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1972|1|7}} 07:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=CHIC-13|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| air drop,

| KB-1 tactical gravity bomb

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000080000|8 kt}}

| Air dropped from Qiang-5 attack jet. See story of launch:{{cite web |url=http://www.airspacemag.com/as-interview/a-amp-s-interview-yang-guoxiang-10170841/ |title=Recalling the H-Bomb that Almost Backfired – Yang Guoxiang, one of China's top test pilots, tells the story |publisher=Air & Space Magazine |date=August 2009 |author=Bob Bergin |access-date=3 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704123347/http://www.airspacemag.com/as-interview/a-amp-s-interview-yang-guoxiang-10170841/ |archive-date=4 July 2015 |url-status=live }}

! CHIC-14{{anchor|CHIC-14}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1972|3|18}} 06:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=CHIC-14|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| air drop,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|001700000|170 kt}}

| Fizzled thermonuke.

! (15){{anchor|(15)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|6|27}} 03:59:46.29

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord|40.7985|89.8091|name=(15)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| air drop,

| NGB/DF-3 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|030000000|3 Mt}}

| High altitude explosion.

! (16){{anchor|(16)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1974|6|17}} 05:59:52.72

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord|40.518|89.619|name=(16)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| atmospheric,

| JL-1 missile warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|010000000|1 Mt}}

! (17){{anchor|(17)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1975|10|27}} 00:59:58.23

| Area B (Qinggir), Lop Nur, China {{coord|41.375|88.326|name=(17)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001440|}}{{convert|1440|m|abbr=on}} +

| tunnel,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000025000|2.5 kt}}

| In a tunnel in Bei Shan (North Mountain).

! (18){{anchor|(18)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1976|1|23}} 06:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=(18)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| atmospheric,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|unknown yield}}

! (19){{anchor|(19)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1976|9|26}} 06:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=(19)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| atmospheric,

| unknown device

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|002000000|200 kt}}

! (20){{anchor|(20)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1976|10|17}} 04:59:58.8

| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China {{coord|41.716|88.3727|name=(20)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000000|}} +

| tunnel,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000026000|2.6 kt}}

! (21){{anchor|(21)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1976|11|17}} 06:00:12.7

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord|40.696|89.627|name=(21)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| air drop,

| DF-5 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|040000000|4 Mt}}

| Largest Chinese test.

! (22){{anchor|(22)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1977|9|17}} 07:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=(22)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| atmospheric,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|unknown yield}}

! (23){{anchor|(23)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|3|15}} 05:00:??

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=(23)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| atmospheric,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000110000|11 kt}}

! (24){{anchor|(24)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|10|14}} 00:59:58.01

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: N1 {{coord|41.5398|88.767|name=(24)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000034000|3.4 kt}}

| First test in a vertical shaft.

! (25){{anchor|(25)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|12|14}}

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=(25)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| atmospheric,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|unknown yield}}

! unnumbered failed test{{anchor|unnumbered failed test}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1979|2|2}}

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=unnumbered failed test|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000010000|1 kt}}

! (26)
(aborted){{anchor|(26)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1979|9|13}}

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=(26)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| parachuted,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|no yield}}

| Parachute failure, bomb crashed without detonation.

! (27){{anchor|(27)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1980|10|16}} 04:30:29.67

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China {{coord|40.719|89.651|name=(27)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| atmospheric,

| JL-1 missile warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|010000000|1 Mt}}

| Last atmospheric test in the world.

! (28){{anchor|(28)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1982|10|5}}

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=(28)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000070000|7 kt}}

| Attempted neutron bomb, fizzle.

! (29){{anchor|(29)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|5|4}} 04:59:57.82

| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China {{coord|41.7227|88.3653|name=(29)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000000|}} +

| tunnel,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000010000|1 kt}}

| Second attempt for neutron bomb, failure.

! (30){{anchor|(30)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|10|6}} 09:59:58.05

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: D1 {{coord|41.54124|88.7207|name=(30)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|unknown yield}}

| Third neutron bomb attempt, failure.

! (31){{anchor|(31)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1984|10|3}} 05:59:57.99

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China {{coord|41.5709|88.7269|name=(31)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|unknown yield}}

| Fourth neutron bomb attempt, failure.

! (32){{anchor|(32)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1984|12|19}} 05:59:58.34

| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China {{coord|41.7167|88.3981|name=(32)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000000|}} +

| tunnel,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000150000|15 kt}}

| Fifth neutron bomb test, successful.

! (33){{anchor|(33)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1987|6|5}} 04:59:58.26

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: J1 {{coord|41.55338|88.74093|name=(33)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| Ballistic missile warhead?

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|002500000|250 kt}}

! (34){{anchor|(34)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1988|9|29}} 06:59:57.97

| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China {{coord|41.725|88.3588|name=(34)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000000|}} +

| tunnel,

| tactical ERW ?

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000030000|3 kt}}

| Final proof test of neutron bomb.

! (35){{anchor|(35)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1990|5|26}} 07:59:57.94

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: C1 {{coord|41.56476|88.71912|name=(35)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| Pakistan derived CHIC-4 nuclear warhead design{{cn|date=June 2025}}

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|12 kt}}

| China tested a nuclear warhead design for Pakistan.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

! (36){{anchor|(36)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1990|8|16}} 04:59:57.7

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: M2 {{coord|41.54298|88.73356|name=(36)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| ballistic missile warhead?

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|001890000|189 kt}}

! (37){{anchor|(37)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|5|21}} 04:59:57.45

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: N2 {{coord|41.5437|88.7641|name=(37)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| DF-31/JL-2 missile warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|006600000|660 kt}}

| China's largest underground test.

! (38){{anchor|(38)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|9|25}} 07:59:58.47

| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China {{coord|41.7167|88.3767|name=(38)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000000|}} +

| tunnel,

| experimental low yield device

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000080000|8 kt}}

! unnumbered failed test{{anchor|unnumbered failed test}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|11|2}}

| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ {{coord|41.5|88.5|name=unnumbered failed test|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000807|}}{{convert|807|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000010000|1 kt}}

| Test of insensitive high explosives in primary.

! (39){{anchor|(39)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1993|10|5}} 01:59:56.6

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: A2 {{coord|41.59|88.70312|name=(39)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,
safety experiment

| DF-41 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000800000|80 kt}}

| Aspherical primary for DF-41.

! (40){{anchor|(40)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1994|6|10}} 06:25:57.9

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: O1 {{coord|41.5287|88.7122|name=(40)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| DF-41 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000900000|90 kt}}

| Aspherical primary for DF-41.

! (41){{anchor|(41)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1994|10|7}} 03:25:58.1

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: H1 {{coord|41.5734|88.72084|name=(41)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,
safety experiment

| DF-41 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000900000|90 kt}}

| Aspherical primary for DF-41.

! (42){{anchor|(42)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|5|15}} 04:05:57.8

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: K1 {{coord|41.5524|88.7524|name=(42)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,
safety experiment

| DF-41 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000950000|95 kt}}

| Aspherical primary for DF-41.

! (43){{anchor|(43)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|8|17}} 00:59:57.7

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: L1 {{coord|41.53983|88.75255|name=(43)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,
safety experiment

| DF-41 warhead

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000900000|90 kt}}

| Prompted Japanese Diet to lodge a protest and freeze grants to China.

! (44) - 1{{anchor|(44)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|6|8}} 02:55:57.9

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: B1 {{coord|41.5768|88.68729|name=(44) - 1|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000500000|50 kt}}

| Test of insensitive high explosives in primary, DF-41 warhead.

! (44) - 2{{anchor|(44)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|6|8}} 02:55:57.9

| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: B1 {{coord|41.5768|88.68729|name=(44) - 2|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001689|}}{{convert|1689|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|unknown yield}}

| Test of insensitive high explosives in primary, DF-41 warhead.

! (45){{anchor|(45)}}

| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|7|29}} 01:48:57.8

| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China {{coord|41.7161|88.3757|name=(45)|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000000|}} +

| tunnel,

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000030000|3 kt}}

| Test of insensitive high explosives in primary, DF-41 warhead.

Summary

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" \|+ China's nuclear testing series summary - Link to world summary of nuclear weapons tests
style="background:#ffdead;" \| Series or years !style="background:#efefef;" \| Years covered !style="background:#ffdead;" \| TestsIncludes all tests with potential for nuclear fission or fusion explosion, including combat use, singleton tests, salvo tests, zero yield fails, safety experiments, and bombs incapacitated by accidents but still intended to be fired. It does not include hydronuclear and subcritical tests, and misfires of a device which was subsequently fired successfully. !style="background:#efefef;" \| Devices fired !style="background:#ffdead;" \| Devices with unknown yield !style="background:#efefef;" \| Peaceful use tests !style="background:#ffdead;" \| Non-PTBT testsNumber of tests which would have been in violation of the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963, such as atmospheric, space or underwater tests. Some "peaceful use" cratering tests which should have been violations were protested, and later quietly dropped. !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" \| Yield range (kilotons) "Small" refers to a value greater than zero but less than 0.5 kt. !style="background:#ffdead;" \| Total yield (kilotons) Some yields are described like "< 20 kt"; such are scored at one half of the numeric amount, i.e., yield of 10k in this example. "Unknown yield" adds nothing to the total. !style="background:#efefef; text-align:center;" class="unsortable" \| Notes
nuclear test \| 1964–1996 \| {{sort\|0047\|47}} \| {{sort\|0048\|48}} \| {{sort\|0007\|7}} \| {{sort\|0000

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ China's nuclear testing series summary - Link to world summary of nuclear weapons tests

style="background:#ffdead;" | Series or years

!style="background:#efefef;" | Years covered

!style="background:#ffdead;" | TestsIncludes all tests with potential for nuclear fission or fusion explosion, including combat use, singleton tests, salvo tests, zero yield fails, safety experiments, and bombs incapacitated by accidents but still intended to be fired. It does not include hydronuclear and subcritical tests, and misfires of a device which was subsequently fired successfully.

!style="background:#efefef;" | Devices fired

!style="background:#ffdead;" | Devices with unknown yield

!style="background:#efefef;" | Peaceful use tests

!style="background:#ffdead;" | Non-PTBT testsNumber of tests which would have been in violation of the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963, such as atmospheric, space or underwater tests. Some "peaceful use" cratering tests which should have been violations were protested, and later quietly dropped.

!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Yield range (kilotons) "Small" refers to a value greater than zero but less than 0.5 kt.

!style="background:#ffdead;" | Total yield (kilotons) Some yields are described like "< 20 kt"; such are scored at one half of the numeric amount, i.e., yield of 10k in this example. "Unknown yield" adds nothing to the total.

!style="background:#efefef; text-align:center;" class="unsortable" | Notes

nuclear test

| 1964–1996

| {{sort|0047|47}}

| {{sort|0048|48}}

| {{sort|0007|7}}

| {{sort|0000

}

| {{sort|0023|23}}

| 0 to 4,000

| {{sort|24409|24,409}}

|style="text-align:left;" |

|- class="sortbottom"

!style="background:#efefef;" | Totals

|style="background:#efefef;" | 1964-Oct-16 to 1996-Jul-29

|style="background:#efefef;" | 47

|style="background:#efefef;" | 48

|style="background:#efefef;" | 7

|style="background:#efefef;" |

|style="background:#efefef;" | 23

|style="background:#efefef;" | 0 to 4,000

|style="background:#efefef;" | 24,409

|style="background:#efefef;text-align:left;" | Total country yield is 4.5% of all nuclear testing.

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book| last1=Norris| first1=Robert S.| first2=Andrew S.| last2=Burrows| first3=Richard W.| last3=Fieldhouse| year=1994| title=Nuclear Weapons Databook, Vol. 5: British, French, and Chinese Nuclear Weapons| publisher=Westview Press| location=Boulder, CO}}

{{cite web| date=June 1998| title=China's nuclear tests: dates, yields, types, methods, and comments| publisher=Center for Nonproliferation Studies| url=http://cns.miis.edu/archive/country_china/coxrep/testlist.htm| access-date=20 January 2014| archive-url=https://archive.today/20131205083146/http://cns.miis.edu/archive/country_china/coxrep/testlist.htm| archive-date=5 December 2013| url-status=dead}}

{{cite tech report| last1=Yang| first1=Xiaoping| first2=Robert| last2=North| first3=Carl| last3=Romney|date=August 2000| title=CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3)| publisher=SMDC Monitoring Research}}

{{cite journal| last=Gupta| first=Vipin| year=1995| title=Locating nuclear explosions at the Chinese test site near Lop Nor| doi=10.1080/08929889508426423| journal=Science and Global Security| volume=5| issue=2| pages=205–244| bibcode=1995S&GS....5..205G| url=http://scienceandglobalsecurity.org/archive/1995/08/locating_nuclear_explosions_at.html| access-date=20 January 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035755/http://scienceandglobalsecurity.org/archive/1995/08/locating_nuclear_explosions_at.html| archive-date=4 March 2016| url-status=live| url-access=subscription}}

{{cite web|publisher=SMDC |year=2004 |title=Nuclear explosion database |url=http://www.rdss.info |access-date=3 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107163417/http://rdss.info/ |archive-date=7 January 2014 }}

{{cite tech report|last1=Andryushin |first1=L. A. |first2=N. P. |last2=Voloshin |first3=R. I. |last3=Ilkaev |first4=A. M. |last4=Matushchenko |first5=L. D. |last5=Ryabev |first6=V. G. |last6=Strukov |first7=A. K. |last7=Chernyshev |first8=Yu. A. |last8=Yudin |year=1999 |title=Catalog of Worldwide Nuclear Testing |publisher=RFNC-VNIIEF |location=Sarov, Russia |url=http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/ |access-date=18 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219131618/http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/ |archive-date=19 December 2013 }}

{{cite tech report| first1=Won-Young| last1=Kim| first2=Paul G.| last2=Richards| first3=Vitaly| last3=Andrushkin| first4=Vladimir| last4=Ovtchinnikov| date=1 April 2001| title=Borovoye digital seismogram archive for underground nuclear tests during 1966-1996| publisher=LDEO| url=http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/Monitoring/Data/Brv_arch_ex/brv_text_table.pdf| access-date=13 December 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030415071029/http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/Monitoring/Data/Brv_arch_ex/brv_text_table.pdf| archive-date=15 April 2003| url-status=live}}

{{cite tech report| last=Lewis| first=Jeffrey| year=2004| title=The minimum means of reprisal: China's search for security in the nuclear age| type=Ph. D. dissertation| url=http://www.cissm.umd.edu/papers/files/the_minimum_means_of_reprisal.pdf| access-date=20 January 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229114023/http://cissm.umd.edu/papers/files/the_minimum_means_of_reprisal.pdf| archive-date=29 December 2013| url-status=dead}}

}}

nuclear test

List of nuclear weapons tests of China#List

List

Summary

See also

References