A Nation in Crisis: The Boxer Rebellion and Its Consequences
The summer of 1900 marked one of the most tumultuous periods in late Qing Dynasty China. The Boxer Rebellion, an anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising, had reached its peak, with the insurgents laying siege to foreign legations in Beijing. Empress Dowager Cixi, initially supportive of the Boxers, soon found herself facing the disastrous consequences of this policy as an eight-nation alliance of foreign powers advanced toward the capital. By mid-August, with foreign troops at the gates of Beijing, the imperial court faced an unprecedented crisis.
The decision to flee was made in haste. On the dawn of August 15, Cixi and Emperor Guangxu, disguised in commoner’s clothing, slipped out of the Forbidden City with a small retinue. Their destination: the western provinces, far from the reach of foreign forces. The journey, fraught with danger and hardship, would become one of the most dramatic episodes of late imperial China.
The Perilous Journey Begins: From Beijing to Huailai
The imperial party’s first stop was Guanshi, a small village seventy li (about 23 miles) from Beijing. Exhausted and fearful of pursuit, they took shelter in a local mosque. The once-mighty rulers of China now slept on simple brick beds, their meals reduced to coarse grains and millet porridge. A merchant company, Tongguangyu, provided mule carts for their onward journey—a far cry from the lavish palanquins of the Forbidden City.
As they traveled, the imperial entourage encountered desperate refugees fleeing the chaos of Beijing. One eyewitness reported Emperor Guangxu muttering bitterly, “We have fallen to this state because of the Boxers,” only to be sharply rebuked by Cixi. The empress dowager, though in grave danger, maintained an air of defiance.
By August 19, they reached Huailai, where the local magistrate, Wu Yong, received them with unexpected hospitality. Despite rumors of imposters posing as the imperial family, Wu Yong recognized them immediately. Cixi, still dressed in Han commoner attire, was moved by the magistrate’s kindness, particularly after days of deprivation. He provided proper food, fresh clothing, and even a sedan chair for her comfort—small luxuries that restored some dignity to the fleeing court.
The Long Road West: Hardships and Survival
The journey continued through Xuanhua and beyond, with conditions gradually improving as more officials joined the procession. Yet hardships remained. At one military outpost, the imperial party found only ruined buildings and meager provisions. Cixi, unaccustomed to such privation, lamented, “I can bear no more! Even Emperor Xuanzong of Tang did not suffer so during the An Lushan Rebellion.”
The flight took on a more organized character as they entered Shanxi. Local officials, eager to demonstrate loyalty, provided proper sedan chairs and supplies. In Taiyuan, the provincial capital, the imperial court found temporary refuge. Here, Cixi confronted the consequences of her earlier support for the Boxers. She dismissed officials like Yu Xian, who had overseen the massacre of missionaries, though she privately acknowledged his loyalty.
Political Maneuvering and the Question of Return
As the court settled in Taiyuan, debates raged over whether to return to Beijing or relocate the capital. Officials like Zhang Zhidong proposed moving the court to central China, while others, including the influential Ronglu, urged an immediate return to negotiate with foreign powers.
Cixi’s trust in Ronglu was evident. When Emperor Guangxu privately suggested executing Prince Duan, a key Boxer supporter, Ronglu refused without Cixi’s approval, signaling where true power lay. Meanwhile, accusations of corruption swirled around Ronglu, though Cixi, ever pragmatic, turned a blind eye.
By late September, rumors of foreign troops advancing into Shanxi forced another move—this time to Xi’an, deep in the interior. The journey was less arduous than the initial flight, but the psychological toll was immense. Cixi mourned the death of Gangyi, a staunch Boxer supporter, while also distancing herself from the movement that had brought such disaster.
Life in Exile: The Xi’an Court
In Xi’an, the imperial court established a makeshift capital. The temporary palace, though modest compared to the Forbidden City, allowed some semblance of normalcy. Cixi, ever the pragmatist, imposed austerity measures, reducing daily expenses to a fraction of their Beijing levels. Yet she still indulged in small luxuries, such as fresh milk from six specially kept cows.
Emperor Guangxu, though given more freedom than during the post-1898 coup, remained a figurehead. His moods were unpredictable, and officials still deferred to Cixi on major decisions. Meanwhile, the heir apparent, Prince Pu Lun, earned a reputation for unruly behavior, further undermining his standing.
The Road Home: Negotiations and Reconciliation
By 1901, negotiations with foreign powers led to the Boxer Protocol, which imposed heavy penalties on China but allowed for the court’s return. Cixi, eager to restore her authority, announced plans to return to Beijing in September. Before departing, she distributed relief funds to famine-stricken regions—a gesture of concern for her suffering subjects.
The return journey was a stark contrast to the desperate flight of 1900. Now escorted by proper guards and supplied by loyal officials, the imperial procession moved with dignity. Yet the scars of the rebellion remained. Cixi, reflecting on the disaster, admitted her error in trusting the Boxers. “I was foolish to believe their boasts,” she reportedly said.
Legacy of the Flight: A Dynasty in Decline
The imperial flight exposed the Qing Dynasty’s fragility. Cixi’s initial support for the Boxers and subsequent flight undermined her authority, while foreign powers tightened their grip on China. Yet the empress dowager’s political acumen allowed her to retain power, even in exile.
The journey also revealed the resilience of imperial ritual. Despite their reduced circumstances, Cixi and Guangxu maintained the trappings of sovereignty, from receiving officials in makeshift throne rooms to observing ceremonial protocols.
For Emperor Guangxu, the flight was another chapter in his tragic reign—a ruler with vision but no real power, forced to follow his aunt’s decisions even in exile.
Modern Reflections: History and Memory
Today, the imperial flight is remembered as a symbol of China’s “century of humiliation.” The image of Cixi and Guangxu fleeing Beijing in disguise contrasts sharply with the grandeur of the Forbidden City, underscoring the dynasty’s decline.
Yet the episode also highlights the complexities of late Qing politics. Cixi’s ability to navigate crisis, the loyalty of regional officials, and the enduring structures of imperial rule all played a role in the court’s survival.
For historians, the accounts of officials like Wang Wenshao and the Jingshan Diary provide invaluable insights into this dramatic period—a time when the fate of an empire hinged on the decisions of a fleeing court.
In the end, the imperial flight was more than an escape; it was a microcosm of the challenges facing China at the dawn of the 20th century—a nation caught between tradition and transformation, struggling to find its place in a rapidly changing world.