Yao Ming was born in Shanghai, China on September 12, 1980.

Yao Ming was born on the 17th of September in Shanghai.

By the time Yao Ming was in 3rd grade, he had reached a height of 5'7.

Yao Ming began his basketball journey at the age of 9, showing early promise in the sport.

Yao Ming's dedication to basketball grew, shaping his life and future career in the sport.

Yao joined the Shanghai Sharks junior team at the age of 13, which marked the beginning of his formal basketball career.

Yao Ming is invited by Nike to attend their basketball camp in Paris.

Yao Ming, at the age of 17, successfully makes it to the varsity team of the Shanghai Sharks.

In 1999, Yao Ming was pressured by Li Yaomin, the deputy general manager of the Shanghai Sharks, to enter the NBA draft. Li also influenced Yao to sign a contract with Evergreen Sports Inc., entitling them to 33% of Yao's earnings, which was later deemed invalid.

Yao Ming participated in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics.

In 2001, Yao Ming was named the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) MVP, recognizing his outstanding performance and leadership in the league. This achievement further solidified his status as a basketball legend in China.

Yao Ming enters the NBA draft, marking a significant milestone in his basketball career.

Yao Ming made an impressive debut in the NBA, scoring 20 points and achieving a perfect 9 for 9 shooting record in a game against the Lakers.

In Yao Ming's first game in Miami, the Heat distributed 8,000 fortune cookies, which led to discussions about East Asian cultural stereotypes. Yao Ming was not familiar with American stereotypes of Chinese and was not angry with the promotion.

Before Yao Ming's first meeting with Shaquille O'Neal, O'Neal made controversial comments prompting accusations of racism. In the game, Yao Ming performed well, and O'Neal later expressed regret for his early treatment of Yao Ming.

On May 17, 2004, Yao Ming represented the Chinese Olympic basketball team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, showcasing his talent and contributing to the team's performance.

Yao Ming underwent surgery on his left big toe due to osteomyelitis, causing him to miss 21 games while recovering. Despite this, he still received the most fan votes to start the 2006 NBA All-Star Game.

During a game against the Utah Jazz, Yao Ming suffered a broken bone in his left foot, requiring six months of rest. This injury occurred with only four games left in the season, contributing to the Rockets' failure to make the playoffs.

Yao Ming broke his right knee while attempting to block a shot, causing him to miss 32 games. Prior to the injury, he had been averaging 26.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, and was considered an MVP candidate.

Yao Ming was medically cleared to play after missing 32 games due to his right knee injury. This allowed him to return to the court for the remainder of the season.

Yao Ming married Ye Li in a private ceremony attended by close friends and family, and closed to the media.

Yao Ming played against fellow Chinese NBA and Milwaukee Bucks player Yi Jianlian for the first time in a game that the Rockets won 104–88. The game was broadcast on 19 networks in China and was watched by over 200 million people in China alone, making it one of the most-watched NBA games in history.

Yao Ming was reported to miss the rest of the 2007-08 NBA season due to a stress fracture in his left foot. Despite missing the NBA playoffs, he did not miss the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China in August.

Yao Ming underwent a successful operation on March 3, which placed screws in his foot to strengthen the bone. The recovery time was estimated at four months.

After undergoing surgery for a fractured foot, Yao Ming made a comeback to play with the Chinese national team on July 17, 2008.

Yao Ming carried the Olympic flame into Tiananmen Square as part of the Olympic torch relay and also led his country's delegation during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Yao Ming provided the voice for a character in a Chinese animated film, The Magic Aster, released on June 19, 2009.

Yao Ming bought his former club team, the Shanghai Sharks, which were on the verge of not being able to play the next season of the Chinese Basketball Association because of financial troubles.

Yao Ming and Ye Li's daughter, Yao Qinlei (Amy), was born in Houston, Texas.

It was announced that Yao Ming had developed a stress fracture in his left ankle, related to an older injury, and would miss the rest of the 2010-11 NBA season.

On July 20, 2011, Yao Ming announced his retirement from basketball due to injuries to his foot and ankle. His retirement garnered significant attention, sparking over 1.2 million comments on the Chinese social-networking site Sina Weibo. NBA commissioner David Stern and Shaquille O'Neal also expressed their admiration for Yao's talent and impact on the game.

In August 2012, Yao Ming began filming a documentary focused on the conservation of the northern white rhinoceros, showcasing his commitment to wildlife preservation.

Yao Ming attended the First Session of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as one of its 2,200 members on March 3, 2013. He continued to be a member of the CPPCC from 2013 to 2018, showcasing his involvement in Chinese politics.

In 2014, Yao Ming was involved in the documentary 'The End of the Wild,' which highlighted the importance of elephant conservation. This further demonstrates his dedication to wildlife protection.

Yao Ming stated in a Reddit post that claims about his parents' influence on his basketball career were not true, and that he started playing basketball for fun at age 9.

On September 9, 2016, Yao Ming was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to the game. This honor was bestowed upon him alongside other basketball legends such as Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson.

On February 3, 2017, Yao Ming's Number 11 jersey was retired by the Houston Rockets, commemorating his impactful career with the team. This gesture symbolized the lasting legacy and influence of Yao Ming in the world of basketball.

Yao Ming's towering presence over officials in the Chinese congress was captured in a picture, reflecting his influence and stature in China.