Events from the year 1871 in China.

• Tongzhi Emperor (11th year)
  • Regent: Empress Dowager Cixi

• Miao Rebellion (1854–73)
• Dungan Revolt (1862–77)
• Panthay Rebellion ends
  • May 1873 — Momien besieged and stormed by imperial troops in, their resistance broke completely. Gov. Ta-sa-kon was captured and executed by order of the Imperial government.
• Beiyang Fleet created
• Mudan incident in Taiwan
• Tongzhi Restoration

• August 14 – Guangxu Emperor, emperor of China (d. 1908)^[1]
• Qiu Yufang, revolutionary, writer and feminist (d. 1904)^[2]