Events from the year 1861 in China.
Incumbents
- Xianfeng Emperor (12th year)[citation needed]
- Tongzhi Emperor
- Regent: Empress Dowager Cixi
- Regent: Prince Gong
Viceroys
- Viceroy of Zhili — Hengfu then Wenyu
- Viceroy of Min-Zhe — Qingrui
- Viceroy of Huguang — Guanwen
- Viceroy of Shaan-Gan — Xilin
- Viceroy of Liangguang — Lao Chongguang
- Viceroy of Yun-Gui — Lin Yuanhao then Fuqing then Pan Duo
- Viceroy of Sichuan — Chongshi then Luo Bingzhang
- Viceroy of Liangjiang — Zeng Guofan
Events
- Nian Rebellion
- Taiping Rebellion
- Battle of Guanzhong (1861)
- Battle of Shanghai (1861)
- Battle of Wuhan (1861)
- Ningbo surrenders to Taiping forces
- Eulenburg expedition
- Miao Rebellion (1854–73)
- Panthay Rebellion
- Xinyou Coup, Cixi seizes power
- Prince Gong made regent
- establishes the Zongli Yamen after the Convention of Peking
- Tongzhi Restoration
- Self-Strengthening Movement begins
Births
- Cheng Biguang
- Duanfang
- Liu Guanxiong
- Jiang Chaozong, (江朝宗) Kō Kōketsu; 1861–1943) was a general in the late Empire of China and an acting Premier of the Republic of China in 1917.
- Wang Zhanyuan
- Zhan Tianyou (Jeme Tien-yow), the father of China’s railroads