1860 in China explained

Events from the year 1860 in China.

Incumbents

• Xianfeng Emperor (10th year)^[1]

Events

• Nian Rebellion
• Second Opium War^[2]
  • Battle of Palikao
  • Battle of Zhangjiawan
  • August 1 — Allied fleet lands at Beitang.
  • August 22 — Battle of Taku Forts (1860), British and French forces capture Taku forts in north China.
  • September 22 — The Xianfeng emperor abandons the capital.
  • October 13 — British and French troops occupy Beijing.
  • October 18 Destruction of the Old Summer Palace^[3]
  • October 24 Sino-British Treaty of Beijing signed.
• Taiping Rebellion^[2]
  • Battle of Jiangnan (1860)
    • June 2 — Taiping forces under the Loyal King capture Suzhou
  • Taiping forces defeat a Qing army surrounding Tianjing, breaking the siege
  • June–September — Battle of Anqing, Qing forces capture Anqing
  • May — Taiping armies rout imperial siege troops at Nanjing.
  • Issachar Roberts arrives in Nanjing.
  • Frederick Townsend Ward enlists foreigners for rifle corps in Shanghai.
  • Zeng Guofan appointed acting Viceroy of Liangjiang, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu; receives full appointment on August 10.
  • July 15 — The Loyal King sends letter stating that the Taiping won't harm foreigners at Shanghai.
  • July 16 — Frederick Townsend Ward's militia captures Songjiang
  • July 28 — Zeng Guofan sets up headquarters in Qimen.
  • July 30 — Taiping forces defeat Frederick Townsend Ward at Qingpu.
  • August 2 — Joseph Edkins and Griffith John arrive in Suzhou to meet Hong Rengan.
  • August 19 — British and French forces attack Taiping rebels at Shanghai.
• Miao Rebellion (1854–73)
• Convention of Peking
  • Amur Annexation, the annexation of the current southeast corner of Siberia into Russia in 1858–1860
• Panthay Rebellion
• Approximate beginning of the Tongzhi Restoration

Births

• Zhu Jiabao
• Gu Zhongchen
• Zheng Xiaoxu

Deaths

• Lam Qua, painter who specialized in Western-style portraits intended largely for Western clients
• Luo Zundian, Qing commander who was forced to commit suicide after losing
• Zhang Guoliang, Qing commander drowned trying to escape in the Jiangnan campaign

Notes and References

1. Book: The Historical Status of China's Tibet. 9787801133045. Wang. Jiawei. Nyima. Gyaincain. 尼玛坚赞. 1997.
2. Book: Platt, Stephen R. . 2012 . Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom: China, the West, and the Epic Story of the Taiping Civil War . Knopf . New York . 9780307271730 . none . registration .
3. Collecting and Displaying China's “Summer Palace” in the West