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The Beijing Revolt or Peking Revolt was an armed mutiny against the Chinese Nationalist government in Beijing (then also known as Peking or Beiping) on 2 March 1929. After the Northern Expedition's official end in 1928, many defeated warlord troops had been integrated into the National Revolutionary Army (NRA). However, one regiment that had previously served under warlord Zhang Zongchang remained loyal to its old commander and rebelled on his orders. Though the mutineers captured the Yonghe Temple and threw Beijing into chaos, their revolt was quickly suppressed.
One of these was Zhang Zongchang, who launched a rebellion in his old fief of Shandong in January 1929. Though he primarily wanted to regain his former territories, Zhang also attempted to rally other warlords to launch a wider anti-Kuomintang movement in northern China. In this he was probably supported by Japan which provided him with ample funds to raise armies and bribe NRA troops to defect. In February 1929, Zhang claimed that a coalition of warlords, including himself, Chu Yupu, Yan Xishan, Wu Peifu, Bai Chongxi, Qi Xieyuan, and a number military commanders were preparing for a massive campaign against the Nationalist government. No actual alliance was formed, however, and the "whole affair died down again, as suddenly as it had started". On the other side, many ordinary soldiers who had formerly been employed by Zhang found his offers highly attractive. Many members of Zhang's Shandong Army had been demobilized after the Northern Expedition and had fallen into poverty. Others had been able to join the NRA, but were not paid well, and thus were ready to defect to their old commander in return for financial rewards. One dissatisfied NRA regiment whose troops were of "northern origin" and had formerly been part of the Shandong Army, was stationed at the Yonghe Temple in Beijing. At some point, Zhang reportedly contacted this unit, and ordered them to prepare a revolt, which they did. It was later believed that this was part of his plot to regain power in northern China.
These loyalists surrounded and isolated the mutineers at the Yonghe Temple, and forced them to surrender after a short fight. Though the number of casualties among the civilians and loyalists remained unclear, two mutineers were killed and 35 wounded. The NRA cordoned the area around the temple, and managed to capture all surviving rebels. Having disarmed it, the mutinous regiment was imprisoned at the former Beihai Park.
Zhang Zongchang's rebellion in Shandong continued until May 1929, but was defeated by loyalist NRA forces. Thereafter, Zhang's career was finished as a military leader and political strongman. After a few years in exile, he returned to Shandong in 1932 and was promptly murdered.
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