China Travel Guide

Empress Dowager Cixi (Nov.29, 1835-Nov.15, 1908), a concubine of Xianfeng Emperor and mother of Tongzhi Emperor, is an essential political figure in the late Qing Dynasty and the actual ruler of Qing court. She held power for 47 years, during which she launched two coups, set up two crowns, and promoted the social transformation three times. Only three years after her death, the game-changing Xinhai Revolution broke out, and China was dragged into the modern age. Quick Facts about Empress Dowager Cixi Name: Yehe Nara Xingzhen  Other Titles: Xiaoqinxian Empress, Empress Dowager Cixi (慈禧太后) Nationality: Manchu Born on: Nov.29, 1835 (Oct.10 in Chinese lunar calendar) Empress Dowager Cixi Died on: Nov.15, 1908 (aged 72, Oct.22 in Chinese lunar calendar) Zodiac: Goat Spouse: Xianfeng Emperor Child: Emperor Tongzhi Sister: Yehe Nara Wanzhen (biological mother of Emperor Guangxu) Religion: Tibetan Buddhism Burial: Ding Mausoleum, Eastern Qing tombs Concubinage  Cixi was born in a Man...

Wu Zetian (624 - 705) is an outstanding politician in the Tang Dynasty, the founding monarch of Wuzhou age (690 - 705), the only orthodox female empress in Chinese history. She was an extraordinary woman, talented, intelligent, and ruthless in the ruling. She rose step by step from a nameless person in the royal court to an intimidating ruler and grabbed the Li family's power. Some people may judge here, but what we can’t deny is that Wu Zetian was a female hero who dared to challenge the patrilineal society and proved to be a brilliant empress. Quick Facts about Wu Zetian Wu Zetian is the only legitimatized Empress in Chinese history.  Wu Zetian Wu Zetian established her dynasty - the Zhou dynasty. Wu Zetian came to the throne when she was 67, making her the oldest person ever be crowned. Wu Zetian was one of the longest-lived monarchs (82 years old) in Chinese history.  Wu Zetian had two husbands, Tang Gaozong Li Zhi and his father, Tang Taizong Li Shimin. Wu Zetian deposed ...