1874	Born at Ji Mei village in Tung An District, Fujian Province, China on 21October
1882	Received traditional education at Nan Xuan Private School in the village
1890	Arrived in Singapore for the 1st time
1891	Join his father's rice business and obtained his working experience as an apprentice
1893	Back to China and married Mdm Teo
1895	Came to Singapore for the 2nd time. In the same year, Taiwan was ceded to Japan
1898	Back to China for his mother's death
1899	Came to Singapore with his wife Mdm Teo and worked in the Soon Ann rice company
1900	Back to China to attend his mother's funeral
1903	Came to Singapore for the 4th time
1904	From then till 1907, he laid his sound economic foundation and paved the way for his assumption of community and political leadership within the Chinese community in Singapore and Malaya. He businesses consisted of pineapple canning, rice firm and rubber plantation.
1910	Joined Tung Meng Hui set up by Dr. Sun Yat Sen to go against Manchurian regime in China.
1911	Elected to be President of the Preservation of Peace Society. Raised more than 200,000 to help Hokien Province Recovery Regime and 50,000 to support Sun Yat Sen's democratic government.
1912	Back to China with his family. Prepared to establish Ji Mei Primary School.
1913	Founded Ji Mei primary School. Came to Singapore for the 5th time.
1915	Rented four ships and succeeded in his shipping business.
1916	Purchased a 3000/ton vessel, named "Tong Fong".
1917	Purchased a larger vessel of 3750/ton, named "Khiam Tai"。Asked his younger brother to prepare for setting up of Ji Mei Secondary School and Ji Mei Normal School. Raised fund for Tientsin Relief Fund.
1918	Official Opening of Ji Mei Secondary School and Ji Mei Normal School. Initiate founding of Singapore Chinese High School. Raised funds for Guangdong Relief Fund.
1919	Official Opening of Singapore Chinese High School. Back to China and prepared for setting up of Xiamen University. Organized Tung An Education Committee to provide annual financial help to more than thirty primary schools in different areas. Sponsored for Singapore Anglo Chinese School.
1920	Founded Ji Mei Women's Normal School, Commercial School and Marine School.
1921	Official Opening of Xiamen University. Lim Boon Keng was appointed as the president.
1922	Extended his rubber plantation business in Singapore.
1923	Established "Nanyang Siang Pau" in Singapore. Chairman of Ee Hoe Hean Club.
1925	Reached the pinnacle of financial success and was recognized as one of he earliest industrial pioneers in Southeast Asia.
1926	Extended Chinese High School campus. Founded Ji Mei Farming and Forestry School. His company faced rising liquidity problem due to depressed rubber prices, heavy bank borrowing and increase in the payment of interests to local bank for loans. While trying his best to maintain funding to school, he was forced to stop part of the building project for Xiamen University and Ji Mei School.
1928	Japanese occupied Jinan on May 3. Tan Kah Kee chaired the Shandong Relief Fund committee.
1929	Elected to be the president of Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. Endowment for Raffles Institution.
1934	Participated in the Bukit Ho Swee Fire Relief Fund.
1937	Headed Singapore China Relief Fund. Raised ten million Singapore dollars to support Chinese war against the Japanese invasion.
1938	Elected as president of the Relief Committee of Nanyang Overseas Chinese for China's Refugees. Write to oppose Wang Jingwei who suggested holding peace talk with Japanese government.
1939	Initiate to establish a Marine and Navigation School in Singapore.
1940	Organised the Overseas Chinese Consolation and Inspection Team, visited Chongqing and Yanan.
1941	Re-elected as president of the Relief Committee of Nanyang Overseas Chinese for China's Refugees. Founded Nanyang Overseas Chinese Normal School. On 7th December, the Japanese army launched a surprise attack against Pearl Harbour, erupting the Pacific War. Led the Committee of Mobilization of Singapore Overseas Chinese against enemies.
1942	Left Singapore and came to Marang of East Java, Indonesia. Started writing "Memoir of Nanyang Overseas Chinese."
1945	Returned to Singapore after war.
1946	Published "Nan Chiao Jit Poh". Supported Nehru for India's independence movement.
1947	Held meeting with Singapore Overseas Chinese, criticized Dutch colonists' crucial treatment to Indonesian Chinese. Decided to impose economical sanction to Dutch Government. Sourced for funds for various schools in Jimei. Founded the Jiyou Bank in Hong Kong to support schools.
1949	Back to China for the first time after war against Japan.
1950	Came to Singapore for the last time and after that return to reside in Jimei. Carried out the supervision work for the building projects of Jimei Schools and Xiamen University. Proposed to build Railway in Hokien.
1955	Started long travels in China, covering 16 provinces in the north-east, north-west and South-west.
1956	Being elected as Chairman of Overseas Chinese Association.
1959	Established Overseas Chinese Museum in Xiamen.
1961	Passed away in Beijing. The bier was sent back to Jimei Village where a state funeral was held. It was buried in Ao Yuan.