The Qing, the last dynasty of the Chinese imperium, ruled for over 260 years (1644-1911). At the end of the 19th century it occupied a territory of roughly 13 million square kilometres and claimed sovereignty over more than 400 million people. One of the questions this book examines is how – on a sheer logistical level – was a complex empire of this size governed before the age of telegrams, telephones, and internet? Instead of looking to the Qing emperor, often perceived as an autocratic Son of Heaven who exercised absolute power over his subjects, our inquiry begins with the palace compound itself, in the heart of the capital city, Beijing.Behind the deliberate staging of splendour and order, imperial palaces were complex and mobile structures with mundane functions that required diverse strands of management: from long-term f iscal planning to chores like sweeping the f loors, from the choreography of state rituals to the provision-ing of daily meals to princesses and servants. The minutiae of these tasks had to be coordinated on multiple levels so that the palace could function effectively as a unit. The administrative organization of the imperial palace of the Qing dynasty provides a telling example of how representational, religious, diplomatic, and day-to-day activities were planned and executed. An abundance of archival and material sources, coupled with eyewitness reports, has facilitated our investigation into the inner workings of the Qing palace. The chapters of this volume take readers inside the public halls, private chambers, and treasure vaults of the Qing palace, to explore the secrets of its operation.