Earthquake prediction was popular between 1966 – 1976 , which overlapped with the Cultural Revolution . This reached its height with the successful prediction of the 1975 Haicheng earthquake . This earthquake had a prominent series of fore-shocks and authorities who were eager to issue a warning . However , very few earthquakes have both these criteria . The unpredictable and devastating Tangshan earthquake in 1976 led to a reduction of the popularity of earthquake prediction in China
Tangshan earthquake
1976 Tangshan earthquake
Geology of China