| Test |
Date |
Yield (kT) |
Delivery |
Goal |
Notes |
| #1 |
16 Oct 64 |
22 |
Tower |
First nuclear test (Project 596) |
Fission design. Device weights 1,550kg / Video |
| #2 |
14 May 65 |
35 |
Airdrop Tu-4 |
First airdrop test |
Video |
| #3 |
9 May 66 |
250 |
Airdrop H-6 |
First attempt to burn thermal nuclear fuel |
Enhanced atomic bomb with thermal nuclear material (Lithium 6) / Video |
| #4 |
27 Oct 66 |
12 |
Missile DF-2 |
First nuclear missile test |
1,290kg warhead / Video |
| #5 |
28 Dec 66 |
300 |
Tower |
Thermal nuclear development |
|
| #6 |
17 June 67 |
3,300 |
Airdrop H-6 |
First full-yield staged thermal nuclear test |
Video |
| #7 |
24 Dec 67 |
15~25 |
Airdrop H-6 |
Thermal nuclear development |
Failed? |
| #8 |
27 Dec 68 |
3,000 |
Airdrop H-6 |
Thermal nuclear development |
First use of plutonium |
| #9 |
23 Sept 69 |
20 |
Underground |
1st underground test |
Horizontal UGT |
| #10 |
29 Sept 69 |
3,400 |
Airdrop H-6 |
Thermal nuclear development |
|
| #11 |
14 Oct 70 |
3,000 |
Airdrop H-6 |
Thermal nuclear development |
|
| #12 |
18 Nov 71 |
15 |
Surface |
Effects/Diagnostics, TN |
|
| #13 |
7 Jan 72 |
8~20 |
Airdrop Q-5 |
TN weaponisation |
Fission;
Possibly containing Pu / Video |
| #14 |
18 Mar 72 |
170 |
Airdrop H-6? |
Possibly trigger device; Containing Pu, for TN warhead |
|
| #15 |
27 June 73 |
2,000~ 3,000 |
Airdrop H-6 |
|
|
| #16 |
17 June 74 |
200~
1,000 |
Atmospheric |
|
|
| #17 |
27 Oct 75 |
2~5 |
Underground |
|
Horizontal UGT |
| #18 |
23 Jan 76 |
<20 |
Atmospheric |
|
Fission |
| #19 |
26 Sept 76 |
200 |
Atmospheric |
|
Fission;
Partial failure of fusion;
"special weapon" |
| #20 |
17 Oct 76 |
10~20 |
Underground |
|
Horizontal UGT |
| #21 |
17 Nov 76 |
4,000 |
Atmospheric |
|
Largest Chinese test |
| #22 |
17 Sep 77 |
20+ |
Atmospheric |
|
Fission |
| #23 |
15 Mar 78 |
6~20 |
Atmospheric |
|
Fission |
| #24 |
14 Oct 78 |
20 |
Underground |
|
First vertical UGT |
| #25 |
14 Dec 78 |
20+ |
Atmospheric |
|
Fission |
| #26 |
13 Sep 79 |
|
|
|
|
| #27 |
16 Oct 80 |
200~
1,000 |
Atmospheric |
|
The last atmospheric nuclear explosion by China or any country |
| #28 |
05 Oct 82 |
3~15 |
|
|
|
| #29 |
04 May 83 |
20~100 |
Underground |
|
Horizontal UGT |
| #30 |
06 Oct 83 |
20~100 |
Underground |
|
Vertical UGT |
| #31 |
03 Oct 84 |
15~70 |
Underground |
|
Vertical UGT |
| #32 |
19 Dec 84 |
5~50 |
Underground |
|
Horizontal UGT |
| #33 |
05 Jun 87 |
|
Underground |
High-yield, deep-shaft |
Vertical UGT |
| #34 |
29 Sep 88 |
1~20 |
Underground |
Reported to be a 1-5 kT enhanced radiation weapon ("neutron bomb") test |
|
| #35 |
26 May 90 |
15~65 |
Underground |
|
|
| #36 |
16 Aug 90 |
50~200 |
Underground |
|
|
| #37 |
21 May 92 |
660~
1,000 |
Underground |
|
China's largest underground test |
| #38 |
25 Sep 92 |
1~20 |
Underground |
|
|
| #39 |
05 Oct 93 |
40~80 |
Underground |
|
|
| #40 |
10 Jun 94 |
40~50 |
Underground |
|
|
| #41 |
07 Oct 94 |
40~50 |
Underground |
|
|
| #42 |
15 May 95 |
95 |
Underground |
|
Prompted protest and suspension of aids by the Japanese government |
| #43 |
17 Aug 95 |
60~80 |
Underground |
|
Prompted protest and suspension of aids by the Japanese government |
| #44 |
08 Jun 96 |
20~80 |
Underground |
|
|
| #45 |
29 Jul 96 |
1~5 |
Underground |
|
Last nuclear test |
