Convention of Peking

1860

Treaty

The Convention of Peking concluded the Second Opium War and imposed further territorial and legal concessions on Qing China, including the cession of southern Kowloon to Britain.

Background

After China’s defeat in the Second Opium War, Britain and France imposed further terms via the Convention of Peking. It legalized opium, allowed missionary presence, and gave Britain control of Kowloon’s southern tip.

Legacy

– Solidified British presence on mainland Kowloon
– Extended Victoria’s reach across the harbor
– Deepened Qing humiliation and Western control

Key Moment

Perspective & Relations

Narratives

	United Kingdom	Expanded its colonial port and secured fresh water sources.
	China	Further territorial loss as imperial decline accelerated.
	France	A co-belligerent pressing for influence and religious privileges.