---
title: "Treaty of Nanjing — Definition & Meaning | Model Diplomat"
description: "The Treaty of Nanjing, signed on 29 August 1842, ended the First Opium War and marked the beginning of China's 'century of humiliation.'"
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/treaty-of-nanjing"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Treaty of Nanjing, signed on 29 August 1842, ended the First Opium War between Britain and Qing China and became the first of the "unequal treaties.
- What did the Treaty of Nanjing grant Britain in 1842?
- Why is the Treaty of Nanjing called the first 'unequal treaty'?
- How did the Treaty of Nanjing connect to later treaties?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Treaty of Nanjing, signed on 29 August 1842, ended the First Opium War between Britain and Qing China and became the first of the "unequal treaties."

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## Timeline

1. 29 August 1842

   The Treaty of Nanjing, signed on , ended the First Opium War between Britain and Qing China and became the first of the "unequal treaties."

2. 26 June 1843

   Ratifications were exchanged at Hong Kong on .

3. 8 October 1843

   Significantly, the treaty itself did not legalise opium nor grant extraterritoriality; those came through the supplementary Treaty of the Bogue (Humen) of ,…

4. 3 July 1844

   The United States obtained equivalent terms in the Treaty of Wanghia () and France in the Treaty of Whampoa (24 October 1844), each importing the most-favour…

5. 24 October 1844

   The United States obtained equivalent terms in the Treaty of Wanghia (3 July 1844) and France in the Treaty of Whampoa (), each importing the most-favoured-n…

6. 1 July 1997

   The Nanjing framework of fixed tariffs, treaty ports, indemnities and extraterritoriality persisted until the abolition of extraterritoriality by Sino-Britis…

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Example

In August 1842, Qing commissioner Qiying signed the Treaty of Nanjing with Britain's Sir Henry Pottinger aboard HMS Cornwallis, ceding Hong Kong Island and opening five treaty ports including Shanghai.

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## Go deeper than the definition

Lessons

[Late Qing Decline The 1911 Revolution](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/china-modern-history-late-qing-decline-the-1911-revolution)[The Opium Wars The Century Of Humiliation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/china-modern-history-the-opium-wars-the-century-of-humiliation)

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