Events in the year 1886 in China.

• Emperor: Guangxu Emperor (12th year)

• Viceroy of Zhili — Li Hongzhang
• Viceroy of Min-Zhe — Yang Changjun
• Viceroy of Huguang — Yulu
• Viceroy of Shaan-Gan — Tan Zhonglin
• Viceroy of Liangguang — Zhang Zhidong
• Viceroy of Yun-Gui — Cen Yuying
• Viceroy of Sichuan — Ding Baozhen then Liu Bingzhang
• Viceroy of Liangjiang — Zeng Guoquan

• March 5 — Dong Biwu, 2nd Vice President of China (d. 1975)
• March 20 — Lin Boqu, politician and poet (d. 1960)
• September 28 — Tan Pingshan, early member of the Chinese Communist Party (d. 1956)
• October 11 — Shao Piaoping, journalist, author and political activist (d. 1926)
• December 1 — Zhu De, 2nd Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (d. 1976)
• December 9 — Zhang Dongsun, philosopher, public intellectual and political figure (d. 1973)

• Fang Shengdong, revolutionary figure (d. 1911)^[1]
• Anandyn Amar, 7th Prime Minister of Mongolia (d. 1941)

• February 21 — Ma Zhan'ao, Chinese Muslim general (b. 1830)
• April 21 — Ding Baozhen, 86th Viceroy of Sichuan (b. 1821)