Empires of Silver

China has become rich through tax reform and trade. Underpinned by silver, its economy is booming. But the 19th Century is fast approaching and a new Empire, Great Britain, is emerging to challenge China. For now these 'foreign barbarians', as the Chinese call them, are under control, but for one Emperor there will be war and humiliation in the century ahead.

Two hundred years ago, China is already the greatest economic and cultural empire in the world. Emperor Qianlong has been in power for over 50 years, ruling an empire that extends from the Himalayas to the Yellow Sea.

With the Qing Empire badly beaten by the British in the first Opium War, they are forced to make significant trade concessions, and the island of Hong Kong is ceded to the British. It's a critical turning point in the relations between the empires of China and Great Britain. The balance of power has shifted. The sun is setting on the Chinese Empire but the British now have an empire, where they proudly boast, the sun will never set.