The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was founded after the Manchus defeated the Ming; the last Han Chinese dynasty. The Manchus introduced a 'queue order'; forcing the Han Chinese to adopt the Manchu queue hairstyle and Manchu-style clothing.

The Qing consolidated control of some areas originally under the Ming; including Yunnan. They also stretched their sphere of influence over Xinjiang; Tibet and Mongolia. But during the 19th century; Qing control weakened. Britain's desire to continue its opium trade with China collided with imperial edicts prohibiting the addictive drug; and the First Opium War erupted in 1840. Hong Kong was ceded to Britain in 1842 under the Treaty of Nanking.

At the start of the 20th century; the Boxer Rebellion threatened northern China. This was a conservative anti-imperialist movement that sought to return China to old ways. The Empress Dowager; probably seeking to ensure her continued grip on power; sided with the Boxers when they advanced on Beijing. But an Eight-Nation Alliance of foreign powers defeated the Boxers and demanded further concessions from the Qing government. A revolutionary military uprising; the Wuchang Uprising; began on October 10; 1911 in Wuhan against the Qing Dynasty. The provisional government of the Republic of China was formed in Nanjing on March 12; 1912; with Sun Yat-sen as President.