The Qing dynasty<span>, also known as the </span>Qing Empire<span>, officially the </span>Great Qing<span> </span><span>English</span><span>was the last </span>imperial dynasty<span> of </span>China<span>, established in 1636 and ruling China from 1644 to 1912. It was preceded by the </span>Ming dynasty<span> and succeeded by the </span>Republic of China<span>. The Qing multi-cultural empire lasted almost three centuries and formed the territorial base for the </span>modern Chinese state<span>.</span>
