Self‑Strengthening Movement (c. 1861–1895)

1. Zongli Yamen established for foreign affairs

   Mar 11, 1861Labels: Zongli Yamen, Qing court

   • Zongli Yamen
   • Britannica

2. Tongwen Guan founded in Beijing

   Jan 1, 1862Labels: Tongwen Guan, Beijing

   • Tongwen Guan
   • Britannica

3. Jiangnan Arsenal established in Shanghai

   Jan 1, 1865Labels: Jiangnan Arsenal, Shanghai

   • Jiangnan Shipyard
   • Britannica

4. Fuzhou Naval Yard planning begins

   Jan 1, 1866Labels: Fuzhou Naval, Mawei

   • Foochow Arsenal

5. Construction begins at Foochow Arsenal

   Jan 1, 1867Labels: Foochow Arsenal, Mawei

   • Foochow Arsenal

6. Tianjin Massacre disrupts cooperative diplomacy

   Jun 21, 1870Labels: Tianjin Massacre, Tianjin

   • Britannica

7. Beiyang Fleet’s formation begins

   Jan 1, 1871Labels: Beiyang Fleet, Northern navy

   • Beiyang Fleet

8. Chinese Educational Mission begins in United States

   Jan 1, 1872Labels: Chinese Educational, New England

   • CEM

9. Kaiping coal enterprise founded

   Jan 1, 1877Labels: Kaiping Mines, Li Hongzhang

   • Kaiping Mines

10. Imperial Telegraph Administration established

    Jan 1, 1881Labels: Imperial Telegraph, Qing state

    • ICTA

11. Sino-French War exposes naval-industrial weaknesses

    Jan 1, 1883Labels: Sino-French War, France

    • Britannica
    • Sino French War

12. Battle of Fuzhou devastates Fujian Fleet

    Aug 23, 1884Labels: Battle of, Fujian Fleet

    • Battle Fuzhou
    • Sino French War

13. First Sino-Japanese War begins (formal declaration)

    Aug 1, 1894Labels: First Sino-Japanese, China

    • Britannica

14. Treaty of Shimonoseki ends the war

    Apr 17, 1895Labels: Treaty of, Japan

    • Britannica
    • Treaty

15. Peiyang University approved as modern school model

    Oct 2, 1895Labels: Peiyang University, Tianjin

    • TJU History
    • Tianjin Univ