Destructive Earthquake Catalog (2300 BC – 2024 AD) for China

A complete and reliable earthquake catalog is the most fundamental dataset for studying regional seismic activity. This study discloses the newly compiled catalog of destructive earthquakes (M≥4.7) for developing the next-generation seismic zonation map of ground motion parameters in China. The dataset was systematically compiled from multiple local, regional, and international sources to ensure comprehensive coverage. To ensure maximal retention of seismicity patterns, the catalog incorporates earthquake clusters, notably foreshock-aftershock sequences. The complete catalog contains 16,403 recorded earthquakes (M≥4.7) spanning 4,324 years from B.C. 2300 to A.D. 2024. The dataset spans China and adjacent zones, with longitudinal and latitudinal extents of 65°E–141°E and 3°N–57°N, respectively. As a foundational dataset, it supports two key modeling processes in developing China's new-generation seismic zonation map: (1) seismic activity characterization, and (2) potential seismic source zone identification.