Name [note 1]
| Date time (UTC)
| Location[note 2]
| Elevation + height [note 3]
| Delivery, [note 4] Purpose [note 5]
| Device[note 6]
| Yield[note 7]
| Fallout[note 8]
| References
| Notes
|
596
| 16 October 1964 07:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China 40.81246°N 89.7901°E / 40.81246; 89.7901 (Project 596)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) + 102 m (335 ft)
| tower,
| "596" or NGB
| 22 kt
|
| [2][3][4][5][6]
| China's first nuclear test. U-235 implosion fission device. UD3 neutron initiator. The device weighed 1,550 kg (3,420 lb). No plutonium was available at that time.
|
CHIC-2
| 14 May 1965 02:00:??, or 13 May 1965[7]
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 (CHIC-2)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft)
| air drop,
| NGB
| 35 kt
|
| [2][3][4]
| Militarized version of 596 dropped by Hong-6.
|
596L
| 9 May 1966 08:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China 40.7864°N 89.727°E / 40.7864; 89.727 (CHIC-3)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| air drop,
| "596L"
| 250 kt
|
| [2][3][4][5]
| First use of lithium-6 in a sloika-like design. Said to have dropped on a 640 ft (200 m) white circle.
|
CHIC-4
| 27 October 1966 01:10:??
| Launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China 41.30782°N 100.31528°E / 41.30782; 100.31528 (Launch_CHIC-4), elv: 1,035 + 0 m (3,396 + 0 ft); Detonation over Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 (CHIC-4)
| N/A + 569 m (1,867 ft)
| high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development
| Dongfeng-2 warhead "548"
| 12 kt
|
| [2][3][4]
| Delivery by CSS-1 MRBM Dong Feng-2 launched from Shuangchengzi Air Base, 894 km (556 mi) east of detonation.
|
629
| 28 December 1966 04:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 40.7989°N 89.8216°E / 40.7989; 89.8216 (CHIC-5)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) + 102 m (335 ft)
| tower,
|
"629" |
122 kt
|
| [2][3][4][5]
| Two-stage thermonuclear bomb design. Design yield of 100 kt. Spherical fission primary based on 596 device. Spherical thermonuclear secondary with lead tamper.
|
639
| 17 June 1967 00:19:08.2
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China 40.744°N 89.775°E / 40.744; 89.775 (CHIC-6)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) + 2,960 m (9,710 ft)
| parachuted,
| "639"
| 3.3 Mt
| |
[2][3][4][8][5]
| Two-stage thermonuclear modified from 629 device to full yield. Spherical fission primary. Spherical thermonuclear secondary with natural uranium tamper.
|
CHIC-7
| 24 December 1967 07:30:22.1
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 (CHIC-7)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| air drop,
|
| 20 kt
|
| [2][3][4]
| 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
| 27 December 1968 07:30:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 (CHIC-8)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| air drop,
| NGB/DF-3 warhead
| 3 Mt
|
| [2][3][4]
| First use of plutonium.
|
CHIC-9
| 22 September 1969 16:14:59.21
| Area B (Qinggir), Lop Nur, China 41.376°N 88.318°E / 41.376; 88.318 (CHIC-9)
| 1,440 m (4,720 ft) +
| tunnel,
|
| 19.2 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| Tunnel test in Nan Shan (South Mountain) that vented to surface.
|
CHIC-10
| 29 September 1969 08:40:12.36
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China 40.722°N 89.515°E / 40.722; 89.515 (CHIC-10)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| air drop,
| NGB/DF-3 warhead
| 3 Mt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
|
|
CHIC-11
| 14 October 1970 07:29:56.91
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China 40.52°N 89.779°E / 40.52; 89.779 (CHIC-11)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| air drop,
| NGB/DF-3 warhead
| 3.4 Mt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
|
|
CHIC-12
| 18 November 1971 06:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 (CHIC-12)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| cratering,
|
| 20 kt
|
| [2][3][4][9]
| Only Chinese cratering test.
|
CHIC-13
| 7 January 1972 07:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 (CHIC-13)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| air drop,
| KB-1 tactical gravity bomb
| 8 kt
|
| [2][3][4]
| Air dropped from Qiang-5 attack jet. See story of launch:[10]
|
CHIC-14
| 18 March 1972 06:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 (CHIC-14)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| air drop,
|
| 170 kt
|
| [2][3][4]
| Fizzled thermonuke.
|
(15)
| 27 June 1973 03:59:46.29
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China 40.7985°N 89.8091°E / 40.7985; 89.8091 ((15))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| air drop,
| NGB/DF-3 warhead
| 3 Mt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| High altitude explosion.
|
(16)
| 17 June 1974 05:59:52.72
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China 40.518°N 89.619°E / 40.518; 89.619 ((16))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| atmospheric,
| JL-1 missile warhead
| 1 Mt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
|
|
(17)
| 27 October 1975 00:59:58.23
| Area B (Qinggir), Lop Nur, China 41.375°N 88.326°E / 41.375; 88.326 ((17))
| 1,440 m (4,720 ft) +
| tunnel,
|
| 2.5 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| In a tunnel in Bei Shan (North Mountain).
|
(18)
| 23 January 1976 06:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 ((18))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| atmospheric,
|
| unknown yield
|
| [2][3][4]
|
|
(19)
| 26 September 1976 06:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 ((19))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| atmospheric,
| unknown device
| 200 kt
|
| [2][3][4]
|
|
(20)
| 17 October 1976 04:59:58.8
| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China 41.716°N 88.3727°E / 41.716; 88.3727 ((20))
| +
| tunnel,
|
| 2.6 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
|
|
(21)
| 17 November 1976 06:00:12.7
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China 40.696°N 89.627°E / 40.696; 89.627 ((21))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| air drop,
| DF-5 warhead
| 4 Mt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| Largest Chinese test.
|
(22)
| 17 September 1977 07:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 ((22))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| atmospheric,
|
| unknown yield
|
| [2][3][4]
|
|
(23)
| 15 March 1978 05:00:??
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 ((23))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| atmospheric,
|
| 11 kt
|
| [2][3][4]
|
|
(24)
| 14 October 1978 00:59:58.01
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: N1 41.5398°N 88.767°E / 41.5398; 88.767 ((24))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
|
| 3.4 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| First test in a vertical shaft.
|
(25)
| 14 December 1978
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 ((25))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| atmospheric,
|
| unknown yield
|
| [2][3][4]
|
|
unnumbered failed test
| 2 February 1979
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 (unnumbered failed test)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| underground,
|
| 1 kt
|
| [11]
|
|
(26) (aborted)
| 13 September 1979
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 ((26))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| parachuted,
|
| no yield
|
| [2][3][4][11]
| Parachute failure, bomb crashed without detonation.
|
(27)
| 16 October 1980 04:30:29.67
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China 40.719°N 89.651°E / 40.719; 89.651 ((27))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| atmospheric,
| JL-1 missile warhead
| 1 Mt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| Last atmospheric test in the world.
|
(28)
| 5 October 1982
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 ((28))
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| underground,
|
| 7 kt
|
| [2][3][4]
| Attempted neutron bomb, fizzle.
|
(29)
| 4 May 1983 04:59:57.82
| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China 41.7227°N 88.3653°E / 41.7227; 88.3653 ((29))
| +
| tunnel,
|
| 1 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| Second attempt for neutron bomb, failure.
|
(30)
| 6 October 1983 09:59:58.05
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: D1 41.54124°N 88.7207°E / 41.54124; 88.7207 ((30))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
|
| unknown yield
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| Third neutron bomb attempt, failure.
|
(31)
| 3 October 1984 05:59:57.99
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China 41.5709°N 88.7269°E / 41.5709; 88.7269 ((31))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
|
| unknown yield
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| Fourth neutron bomb attempt, failure.
|
(32)
| 19 December 1984 05:59:58.34
| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China 41.7167°N 88.3981°E / 41.7167; 88.3981 ((32))
| +
| tunnel,
|
| 15 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| Fifth neutron bomb test, successful.
|
(33)
| 5 June 1987 04:59:58.26
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: J1 41.55338°N 88.74093°E / 41.55338; 88.74093 ((33))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
| Ballistic missile warhead?
| 250 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
|
|
(34)
| 29 September 1988 06:59:57.97
| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China 41.725°N 88.3588°E / 41.725; 88.3588 ((34))
| +
| tunnel,
| tactical ERW ?
| 3 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| Final proof test of neutron bomb.
|
(35)
| 26 May 1990 07:59:57.94
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: C1 41.56476°N 88.71912°E / 41.56476; 88.71912 ((35))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
| Pakistan derived CHIC-4 nuclear warhead design[citation needed]
| 12 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| China tested a nuclear warhead design for Pakistan.[citation needed]
|
(36)
| 16 August 1990 04:59:57.7
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: M2 41.54298°N 88.73356°E / 41.54298; 88.73356 ((36))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
| ballistic missile warhead?
| 189 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
|
|
(37)
| 21 May 1992 04:59:57.45
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: N2 41.5437°N 88.7641°E / 41.5437; 88.7641 ((37))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
| DF-31/JL-2 missile warhead
| 660 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
| China's largest underground test.
|
(38)
| 25 September 1992 07:59:58.47
| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China 41.7167°N 88.3767°E / 41.7167; 88.3767 ((38))
| +
| tunnel,
| experimental low yield device
| 8 kt
|
| [2][3][4][8]
|
|
unnumbered failed test
| 2 November 1992
| Area D (Drop Area), Lop Nur, China ~ 41.5°N 88.5°E / 41.5; 88.5 (unnumbered failed test)
| 807 m (2,648 ft) +
| underground,
|
| 1 kt
|
| [11]
| Test of insensitive high explosives in primary.
|
(39)
| 5 October 1993 01:59:56.6
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: A2 41.59°N 88.70312°E / 41.59; 88.70312 ((39))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft, safety experiment
| DF-41 warhead
| 80 kt
|
| [2][3][4][12]
| Aspherical primary for DF-41.
|
(40)
| 10 June 1994 06:25:57.9
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: O1 41.5287°N 88.7122°E / 41.5287; 88.7122 ((40))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
| DF-41 warhead
| 90 kt
|
| [2][4][9][13]
| Aspherical primary for DF-41.
|
(41)
| 7 October 1994 03:25:58.1
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: H1 41.5734°N 88.72084°E / 41.5734; 88.72084 ((41))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft, safety experiment
| DF-41 warhead
| 90 kt
|
| [2][4][12][13]
| Aspherical primary for DF-41.
|
(42)
| 15 May 1995 04:05:57.8
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: K1 41.5524°N 88.7524°E / 41.5524; 88.7524 ((42))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft, safety experiment
| DF-41 warhead
| 95 kt
|
| [2][4][12]
| Aspherical primary for DF-41.
|
(43)
| 17 August 1995 00:59:57.7
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: L1 41.53983°N 88.75255°E / 41.53983; 88.75255 ((43))
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft, safety experiment
| DF-41 warhead
| 90 kt
|
| [2][4][13]
| Prompted Japanese Diet to lodge a protest and freeze grants to China.
|
(44) - 1
| 8 June 1996 02:55:57.9
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: B1 41.5768°N 88.68729°E / 41.5768; 88.68729 ((44) - 1)
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
|
| 50 kt
|
| [2][4][9][13]
| Test of insensitive high explosives in primary, DF-41 warhead.
|
(44) - 2
| 8 June 1996 02:55:57.9
| Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, China: B1 41.5768°N 88.68729°E / 41.5768; 88.68729 ((44) - 2)
| 1,689 m (5,541 ft) +
| underground shaft,
|
| unknown yield
|
| [2][4][9]
| Test of insensitive high explosives in primary, DF-41 warhead.
|
(45)
| 29 July 1996 01:48:57.8
| Area A (Nanshan), Lop Nur, China 41.7161°N 88.3757°E / 41.7161; 88.3757 ((45))
| +
| tunnel,
|
| 3 kt
|
| [2][4][9]
| Test of insensitive high explosives in primary, DF-41 warhead.
|