Qianlong Emperor's Reign (1735–1796)

1. Hongli succeeds after Yongzheng’s death

   Oct 8, 1735Labels: Hongli, Yongzheng

   The Yongzheng Emperor died, and his son Hongli succeeded to the throne, beginning the transition to what would be known as the Qianlong reign.

   • Britannica
   • Wiki Yongzheng

2. Qianlong Emperor begins formal reign

   Oct 18, 1735Labels: Qianlong, Regnal name

   Hongli’s reign as emperor is conventionally dated from his accession in late 1735; soon after, the Qianlong era name came into use for state documents and dating.

   • Wiki Qianlong
   • SLAM

3. Qianlong era name officially commences

   Feb 12, 1736Labels: Qianlong era, Nianhao

   The Qianlong era title (nianhao) began, providing the official regnal dating system used throughout most of his rule.

   • Wiki Qianlong
   • SLAM

4. First Jinchuan campaign in Sichuan

   Jan 1, 1747Labels: Jinchuan campaign, Sichuan

   Qing forces fought in the Gyalrong region of Sichuan in the first of the two costly Jinchuan campaigns, part of Qianlong’s frontier consolidation efforts.

   • Wiki Jinchuan
   • Wiki Ten Campaigns

5. Death of Empress Xiaoxianchun (Fuca)

   Apr 8, 1748Labels: Empress Fuca, Court mourning

   Empress Xiaoxianchun (the Fuca empress) died during one of Qianlong’s southern tours, a major court event with significant political and ceremonial repercussions.

   • Wiki Xiaoxian
   • Academia Sinica

6. Lady Nara installed as empress consort

   Jan 1, 1750Labels: Lady Hoifa-nara, Empress Consort

   After the mourning period following Empress Fuca’s death, Lady Hoifa-nara (Consort Xian) was elevated to Empress Consort, reshaping inner-court hierarchy.

   • Academia Sinica

7. First Southern Inspection Tour to Jiangnan

   Jan 1, 1751Labels: Southern tour, Jiangnan

   Qianlong undertook the first of his six southern inspection tours, modeled on earlier Kangxi precedents and used to project imperial presence and supervise key economic regions.

   • NMC
   • Columbia AFE

8. Qing conquest of Dzungaria begins

   Jan 1, 1755Labels: Dzungar conquest, Inner Asia

   Qianlong launched major operations against the Dzungars, initiating the campaigns that would dismantle the Dzungar polity and transform Qing power in Inner Asia.

   • Wiki Ten Campaigns
   • Wiki Qianlong

9. Dzungar genocide during final suppression

   Jan 1, 1755Labels: Dzungar genocide, Final suppression

   In the aftermath of rebellion and renewed Qing operations, policies and warfare contributed to the destruction of much of the Dzungar population, a pivotal and devastating episode of the reign.

   • Wiki Dzungar
   • Wiki Ten Campaigns

10. Revolt of the Altishahr Khojas erupts

    Jan 1, 1757Labels: Altishahr revolt, Tarim Basin

    An uprising in the Tarim Basin (southern Xinjiang) challenged Qing authority; its suppression was central to Qing integration of the region following the Dzungar wars.

    • Wiki Altishahr
    • Wiki Ten Campaigns

11. Canton System established for maritime trade

    Jan 1, 1757Labels: Canton System, Guangzhou

    The court restricted most Western maritime commerce to Guangzhou (Canton), formalizing a single-port framework that shaped Qing–European trade relations for decades.

    • Wiki Canton

12. Sino-Burmese War begins

    Dec 1, 1765Labels: Sino-Burmese War, Konbaung

    Qing forces fought the Konbaung dynasty of Burma in a major frontier war involving multiple invasions, heavy losses, and long-term strategic consequences.

    • Wiki Burma War
    • Wiki Ten Campaigns

13. Second Jinchuan campaign launched

    Jan 1, 1771Labels: Second Jinchuan, Military campaign

    A renewed and much larger Qing effort in Jinchuan escalated into a prolonged, expensive war that ended with Qing victory and administrative reordering in the region.

    • Wiki Jinchuan
    • Wiki Ten Campaigns

14. Siku Quanshu project commissioned

    Jan 1, 1772Labels: Siku Quanshu, Imperial library

    Qianlong ordered compilation of the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), a massive imperial bibliographic and copying project that also intensified literary scrutiny.

    • Wiki Siku
    • Smith LibGuides

15. Treaty of Betrawati ends Sino-Nepalese War

    Oct 2, 1792Labels: Treaty of, Sino-Nepalese War

    After Qing intervention in Tibet against Gorkha forces, the war concluded with the Treaty of Betrawati, reshaping Qing–Nepal relations and formalizing tribute obligations.

    • Wiki Nepal War

16. Macartney Embassy meets Qianlong in Beijing

    Jan 1, 1793Labels: Macartney Embassy, Britain

    Britain’s first major diplomatic mission to Qing China sought expanded trade and permanent representation; Qianlong rejected the main requests, underscoring Qing confidence in existing trade rules.

    • Wiki Macartney
    • Wiki Canton

17. Golden Urn system and Tibet reforms issued

    Jan 1, 1793Labels: Golden Urn, Tibet reforms

    In the wake of the Nepal conflict, Qianlong’s court advanced new measures for Tibetan governance, associated with the Golden Urn selection procedure and the 29-Article Ordinance.

    • Wiki 29 Article
    • Wiki Golden Urn

18. Qianlong abdicates; Jiaqing enthroned

    Feb 9, 1796Labels: Abdication, Jiaqing

    Qianlong abdicated and his son became the Jiaqing Emperor; Qianlong retained significant influence as Emperor Emeritus for several years afterward.

    • Wiki Qianlong