Leaders

Two of the strongest Qing emperors were Kangxi and Qianlong.

Kangxi ruled for over 60 years, one of the longest reigns in history. He worked to stabilize the empire, lower taxes, rebuild farms after wars, and bring peace to many regions. He also learned about Western science and mapping, helping China better understand its own size and borders.

Qianlong, Kangxi’s grandson, ruled when the Qing Empire was at its largest and richest. Under him, China had huge cities, strong armies, and a growing population. He collected books, art, and history to protect Chinese culture. However, later in his rule, corruption grew and problems were ignored, which hurt the empire in the long run.