The Qing dynasty’s Manchu forces led by the Shunzhi Emperor take Beijing during the collapse of the Ming dynasty.

The Qing dynasty (1644–1912) was the last imperial dynasty of China, established by the Manchus, an ethnic group from northeast China. It followed the Ming dynasty and ruled for nearly three centuries, overseeing one of the most expansive periods in Chinese history. Under emperors like Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, the Qing saw territorial expansion, economic growth, and a flourishing of arts and culture. However, despite its early strength, the dynasty faced major internal and external pressures in the 19th century — including the Opium Wars, foreign imperialism, and peasant uprisings like the Taiping Rebellion. Attempts at reform came too late, and growing dissatisfaction led to the 1911 Revolution, which brought an end to over 2,000 years of imperial rule in China.