While the Xiadian Fault is still active and poses a potential threat to the Greater Beijing region , earthquakes of this magnitude are predicted to occur only every 6,500 years along the slow moving fault . Other similar faults , however , exist in the Beijing region and are not properly understood . On average , a major earthquake is predicted to occur in the North China Plain every 300 years , most recently with the 1976 Tangshan earthquake . A 2007 study by Risk Management Solutions found that an earthquake similar in size to the 1679 Sanhe-Pinggu event could have devastating effects and result in the deaths of between 35,000 and 75,000 people . In addition , economic impacts at that time were estimated to be 445 billion RMB ( c. $ 57 billion )
1976 Tangshan earthquake
1976 Tangshan earthquake
1679 Sanhe-Pinggu earthquake