Zhangjiakou In The History Of Sino-Russian Relations In The Qing Dynasty

Originally in Ming Dynasty,Zhangjiakou was just a common military fort in the northern frontier defense system.Later,in the process of Mongolian-Han business exchange and the development of Mongolia traveling merchants,it gradually evolved from a military fort to a town and a commercial port.It also became the starting point of the famous Zhang-Ku Road.At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty,the Sino-Russian relationship was at its inception,and Zhangjiakou became an important geographical node on the road of Sino-Russian diplomatic and trade relations.In 1689,China and Russia signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk,which started the establishment of a treaty system for Sino-Russian relations.From then on to 1851,Sino-Russian relations entered the period of equal treaty system.China and Russia began to develop "capital exchange" and "border trade in Kiakhtu",Chinese businessmen and Russian businessmen trade on an equal footing.At this time,Zhangjiakou not only became a gathering place for Chinese merchants,the "key" of Sino-Russian Kiakhtu trade,but also the tax payment and ticket application place for Sino-Russian Kiakhtu trade managed by the Qing government.Since the second half of the 18 th century,as the tea trade between China and Russia was flourishing,Zhangjiakou became the pearl on the tea road,and Zhangjiakou's development entered a period of great prosperity.However,after 1851,the unequal treaty system between China and Russia was gradually established.Russian merchants took advantage of all kinds of preferential rights granted by the unequal treaty system to penetrate into the Chinese mainland,overwhelm Chinese merchants and control the Sino-Russian overland tea trade.Zhangjiakou then became an important gateway for Russia to grab economic benefits.Without the participation of Chinese businessmen,Zhangjiakou appeared to be prosperous,but in fact tended to decline.In the early 20 th century,with the opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Middle East Railway,the traditional land trade route between Zhangjiakou and Kiakhtu has been changed.Therefore,Zhangjiakou had to step out of the stage of Sino-Russian trade and entered into a new era of development.The rise and fall of Zhangjiakou is closely related to the fate of Sino-Russian trade in Kiakhta.In addition,Russia began to send missions to Beijing in 1715,and the whole Qing Dynasty sent 18 missions.Zhangjiakou has also become a necessary place for missions to pass through.In the pace of the new era,Zhangjiakou should grasp the opportunity of the current era,develop its own economic and cultural industries according to local conditions,and strive to usher in a new development era.