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The Opium Trade in China

Season 1 Episode 5 | 3m 16s

Michael Wood talks to Prof. Zheng Yangwen about the crippling social effects on China of the opium trade run by the British. "Where is your conscience?" the emperor asked Queen Victoria. In the late 1830's, the Chinese decided to do something about it and ordered the destruction of all the opium held in British workhouses. There would be tragic consequences for China in the First Opium War.

Extras
Michael Wood tells the dramatic tale of China's last empire, the Qing.
Qiu Jin was the tragic star of the failed revolution of 1907, against the Qing Dynasty.
Michael Wood describes the first meeting of the Chinese Communist Party in Shanghai 1921.
The great Taiping Rebellion, the fall of the Empire and the rise of Mao.
Under the Qing Dynasty Muslim culture had a new vitality – including all women’s mosques.
Michael Wood visits the last surviving communist outpost in today's China.
Michael Wood watches an opera in the snow, to celebrate Grandma’s 90th birthday!
Survey the three great revolutions that gave birth to today's China.
Discover the splendors of China’s last empire, the Qing.
A weekend of shopping and sightseeing in Suzhou - the tourist capital of the Ming dynasty!
Latest Episodes
Michael Wood tells the dramatic tale of China's last empire, the Qing.
The great Taiping Rebellion, the fall of the Empire and the rise of Mao.
Michael Wood tells the tale of China's Renaissance.
The time of the Great Wall , the Forbidden City and treasure ships sent on ocean voyages.
Michael Wood conjures up China's first great international age, the Tang Dynasty.
Michael Wood returns to the beginnings of Chinese history to find clues to today's China.