Convention of Peking ends the Second Opium War; Old Summer Palace burned

Background. The Second Opium War, fought between 1856 and 1860, involved Britain and France against the Qing dynasty. The conflict escalated after the Treaty of Tientsin failed to satisfy British goals. In 1860, Anglo-French forces marched from Tianjin to Beijing, capturing the Old Summer Palace on 6 October and looting imperial collections over subsequent days.

Burning of the Old Summer Palace. Lord Elgin ordered the complete destruction of the Old Summer Palace on 18 October 1860. This action was retaliation for the torture and execution of nearly twenty European and Indian prisoners, including British envoys and journalist Thomas Bowlby. The palace, an architectural wonder with immeasurable collections, suffered incalculable cultural loss.

Convention of Peking. The Convention of Peking comprised three unequal treaties signed in 1860. On 24 October, treaties with Britain and France were signed in the Ministry of Rites. The agreement ratified the Treaty of Tientsin, ceded Kowloon to Britain, and marked a significant shift in diplomatic relations.