The 8th Tank Division (Chinese: 坦克第8师) was formed on September 26, 1967 from Factory No.953, 238th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment from 33rd Army Division, 281st Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment from 76th Army Division and 330th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment from 200th Army Division.

In December 1982 the division was put under command of 46th Army Corps, and an Armored Infantry Regiment was formed and attached to the division.

In April 1983 an Artillery Regiment was formed and attached to the division.

In the late 1980s the division maintained as an army tank division, and from 1986 it became the only unit equipped with Type 79 main battle tanks.

By then the division was composed of: In late 2011 the division was split into two: the division itself became the 8th Armored Brigade (Chinese: 装甲第8旅), while half of its battalions formed 200th Mechanized Infantry Brigade.