The Qing dynasty; which lasted from 1644 until 1912; was the last imperial dynasty of China. In the 19th century; the dynasty experienced Western imperialism following the First Opium War (1839-42) and the Second Opium War (1856-60) with Britain. China was forced to sign unequal treaties; pay compensation; allow extraterritoriality for foreign nationals; and cede Hong Kong to the British[60] under the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. The First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) resulted in Qing China's loss of influence in the Korean Peninsula; as well as the cession of Taiwan to Japan.

In 1898; the Guangxu Emperor drafted a reform plan to establish a modern constitutional monarchy; but he was overthrown by the Empress Dowager Cixi in a coup d'閠at. The ill-fated anti-Western Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901 further weakened the Qing dynasty. The Xinhai Revolution of 1911-12 brought an end to the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China. Pictures From History