The first Opium War and its impacts on China

Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject History - Asia grade: 10 The University of Hong Kong language: English abstract: Before 1839 China was closed for Western trader. The only Chinese port where highly controlled trade between Western merchants and the governmental ap-pointed merchants Gong Hang was allowed was Canton (Guangzhou). Western merchants had to life in separated districts of Canton could not stay there more than a few months and were prohibited to bring their families or to have contact with Chinese except in trade. Furthermore Western traders could not contact Chi-nese officials directly and there were no formal diplomatic relations between Chi-na and Western countries. Why did China seal off itself from Western trade so extremely?