| Unit Name: | 1st Cavalry Division (1949–69) 8th Army Division (1969–85) 8th Motorized Infantry Division (1985–) |
| Dates: | 1949.3 - |
| Branch: | People's Liberation Army Ground Force |
| Type: | Motorized infantry |
| Size: | Division |
| Command Structure: | Xinjiang Military District |
| Garrison: | Tacheng, Xinjiang |
| Battles: | Chinese Civil WarSino-Indian WarSino-Indian border dispute |
The 1st Cavalry Division was a division of the People's Liberation Army. It was created in March 1949 under the Regulation of the Redesignations of All Organizations and Units of the Army, issued by Central Military Commission on November 1, 1948,[1] basing on Cavalry Brigade of Jinsui Military District. Its history can be traced to Cavalry Brigade of Shanganning-Jinsui Coalition Army formed in 1942.
The division was a part of 8th Corps. The division took part in the Chinese Civil War, including the Campaign to Suppress Bandits in Northwestern China.
In June 1952, the division absorbed 3rd Cavalry Division and the Cavalry Regiment of Henan Military District.
In August 1962 the division moved to Yecheng, Xinjiang. From January 1963 the division was transferred to Xinjiang Military Region's control.
The division was then composed of:
In August 1964, the division was converted to a southern division, catalogue B:
In October 1969, the division was renamed as the 8th Army Division, and all its regiments were redesignated as follow:
In November 1985, the division was renamed as the 8th Motorized Infantry Division, as a northern motorized infantry division, catalogue A. The division was then composed of:
The division also administratively controlled the 12th Garrison Regiment of Lanzhou Military Region, which was later disbanded in October 1992.
From September 1985 to October 1986, Reconnaissance Company, 11th Army Division (Motorized Infantry Division) took part in the Battle of Laoshan as a part of 5th Reconnaissance Group. The company earned the honorific title of Heroic Reconnaissance Company awarded by the Chengdu Military Region.
In December 1989, Tank Regiment, 11th Motorized Infantry Division was activated. In 1998, the regiment was renamed as Armored Regiment, 11th Motorized Infantry Division.
In 2003 the 23rd Motorized Infantry Regiment was disbanded. Since then the division is composed of:
The division is now a maneuver unit of Xinjiang Military District as one of few divisions left in the People's Liberation Army Ground Force.