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Gifts of hope and glory

March 16, 2007 | Wang Shanshan | Copyright

The Chinese Emperor was celebrating his 80th birthday and the first official British delegation had arrived in Beijing bearing gifts.

Qing Dynasty emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) had agreed to meet Lord George Macartney, who was passing on an important message from his ruler King George III. Britain wanted to form official relations with the Middle Kingdom and offered gifts showing off the best of British technology and culture. The emperor was offered guns, instruments of astronomy, telescopes, and ornately decorated clocks.

The time was 1793 and the 100-member British delegation included scientists, artists, scholars, guards, valets and Chinese language teachers. The group was paraded through the streets of Beijing with great pomp and ceremony. …

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