The Convention of Peking was a pivotal treaty that concluded the Second Opium War, which lasted from 1856 to 1860. With the Qing dynasty facing military defeat, the need for a negotiated peace became vital. The treaty was signed on October 24, 1860, between representatives of the Qing government and the British Empire, with concurrent agreements signed by France as it participated alongside Britain in the conflict. One of the key outcomes was the cession of Kowloon to Britain in perpetuity, a move that would have lasting geopolitical ramifications in the region. The treaty also facilitated the expansion of foreign trade in China and permitted the establishment of more foreign legations in Beijing, illustrating the diminishing power of the Qing dynasty in the face of Western imperialism.The negotiations were held following the storming of the Qing's capital and other significant military engagements, which had left the Chinese government in a precarious position. Various imperial powers, primarily Britain and France, were able to leverage military success to gain significant concessions from China. The cession of Kowloon was particularly noteworthy because it laid the groundwork for future territorial expansions, marking the beginning of British oversight in Hong Kong, which would eventually lead to its designation as a crown colony. This moment also encapsulated the broader Western exploitation of China and the complexities of its interactions with colonial powers.