1997 in China

Incumbents

• General Secretary of the Communist Party: Jiang Zemin
• President: Jiang Zemin
• Premier: Li Peng
• Vice President: Rong Yiren
• Vice Premier: Zhu Rongji

  Events

• January 21 – 1997 Jiashi earthquakes
• February – Ghulja Incident
• February 25 – 1997 Ürümqi bus bombings
• April 29 - According to Chinese government official confirmed report, two passenger train collision on Rongjiawan Station, Hunan Province, 120 persons were fatalities with 230 persons were hurt.
• May 8 – China Southern Airlines Flight 3456
• July 1 – Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong
• August – Typhoon Winnie
• September 19 – Election of the 15th Politburo of the Communist Party of China
• November 8 – 1997 Manyi earthquake

  Culture

• 1997 Shanghai International Film Festival: The Woodlanders won the award for Best Feature Film
• List of Chinese films of 1997

  Sport

• December 5–14 – 1997 AFC Women's Championship, in Guangdong
• Chinese Jia-A League 1997
• China at the 1997 East Asian Games

  Deaths

• February 19 – Deng Xiaoping, in Sichuan Paramount Leader of China