In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a wave of anti-foreign sentiment, fueled by increasing foreign intrusion in China, led to the Boxer Rebellion. This movement, consisting mainly of peasants, was marked by violent uprisings against foreigners and Chinese Christians. The Legation Quarter, home to various embassies and foreign nationals, became a safe haven amid escalating violence across Beijing. On June 20, 1900, the Imperial Chinese Army surrounded this enclave, initiating a siege that would last 55 days.

During the siege, the residents of the Legation Quarter faced dire conditions, with limited supplies and constant bombardment. Militias loyal to the Qing dynasty escalated attacks as they sought to expel foreign influence from the city. Although foreign troops were initially sent to reinforce the besieged residents, the siege highlighted a significant breakdown in Qing authority and the complexities of foreign relations in the region. The siege culminated in a massive international relief force arriving to rescue the trapped diplomats and civilians.

The Boxer Rebellion and the siege of the Legation Quarter had lasting implications for China’s relationship with foreign powers. It set off a series of events that resulted in the Boxer Protocol, which mandated punitive measures against China, shaping its future interactions with the Western world. This brutal confrontation illustrated the challenges faced by the Qing dynasty as it struggled to maintain control in the face of internal rebellion while also managing external pressures.