Canton System
One-port trade policy
The Canton System was a Qing dynasty policy restricting European maritime trade to the single port of Guangzhou (Canton) from 1757 to 1842.
Foreign merchants dealt exclusively with licensed Chinese trading firms called hongs, and were confined to designated areas outside the city walls.
The system ended after Britain's victory in the First Opium War forced China to open additional ports.
- mercantilismTrade policy favoring exports
- East India CompanyBritish colonial trading corporation
- tariffsTaxes on imports
- clipper shipsFast sailing cargo vessels
- GuangzhouSouthern Chinese trading hub
trading posts · Pearl River · Middle Kingdom · opium trade · monopolies · Opium Wars · port cities · customs houses · customs duties · Western imperialism · mandarins · trade embargoes · Macau · barbarians · colonial trade · porcelain · smuggling · silver bullion
- Qing DynastyQing Dynasty, Forbidden City, Eight Banners, Summer Palace
Canton Systemfree trade
Unrestricted international exchange
open door policy · open trade · free port · free market · free trade zone