Milestones: 1966

-- China successfully launches its first intermediate-range ballistic missile on Jan 16. On Oct 27 it is also successful in its first nuclear ballistic missile test.

-- Earthquakes, including one measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale, hit Xingtai, just about 390 km south of Beijing, in March. More than 8,000 people are killed.

-- The "cultural revolution" breaks out, resulting in years of social chaos, economic slowdown and the displacement of millions of people.