During the 19th and early 20th centuries, several parts of China were colonized by Western powers. Here are some prominent examples:
1. Hong Kong: Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841 until 1997 when it was returned to Chinese sovereignty. It was an important British trading port and developed into a major financial hub.
2. Macau: Macau was a Portuguese colony from the 16th century until 1999. It served as a trading post and later as a gambling and entertainment destination.
3. Shanghai International Settlement: The Shanghai International Settlement was a territory in Shanghai that was jointly administered by several Western powers, including the British, French, and American, from 1863 to 1941. It was an important center for trade and commerce.
4. Tianjin Concession: The Tianjin Concession was an area in Tianjin that was under the control of several European countries, including Britain, France, and Germany, from 1860 to 1947. It was a major trading and commercial center.
It's important to note that these territories have since been returned to Chinese control, and Hong Kong and Macau are now special administrative regions with a high degree of autonomy.
In addition to the regions mentioned earlier, several other parts of China were colonized or came under the influence of Western powers during the 19th and 20th centuries. Here are some examples:
1. Treaty Ports: Following the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century, China was forced to open several ports to foreign trade. These treaty ports became areas of foreign influence. Some significant treaty ports included Guangzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, and Hankou.
2. Weihaiwei: Weihaiwei, located in present-day Shandong Province, was a leased territory under British control from 1898 to 1930. It served as a naval base for the Royal Navy.
3. Taiwan: Taiwan was under the control of the Dutch Empire from 1624 to 1662, followed by the Spanish Empire until 1642. After that, it came under Chinese rule. However, Taiwan was later ceded to Japan in 1895 following the First Sino-Japanese War, and it remained under Japanese control until the end of World War II.
4. Qingdao: Qingdao, located in Shandong Province, was leased to Germany in 1898. It served as a German colony until it was occupied by Japan during World War I and later returned to China in 1922.
5. Shandong Peninsula: The Shandong Peninsula saw a significant amount of colonization and influence by various Western powers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Apart from Qingdao and Weihaiwei, multiple countries, including Germany, Russia, and Japan, held different parts of the region at various times.
It is worth noting that China's colonization and foreign influence were not limited to Western powers, and countries like Japan also played a significant role in exerting control over parts of China during this period.