Emperor Qianlong is famous not only for being extravagant and amorous, but also for being the longest-living emperor in ancient China. In his lifetime, Emperor Qianlong made many contributions to the country, but also left behind grave mistakes that burdened his descendants even after his death.
1. Mistaken favoritism
Throughout history, the love affair between Noble Consort Yin and Emperor Qianlong has always been one of the most talked-about romantic stories in the Qing Dynasty. According to novels, historical records, movies, and TV dramas, Noble Consort Yin was always the favored concubine of Emperor Qianlong, receiving his utmost love and favor. Eventually, Noble Consort Yin was promoted to the position of Empress Dowager, enjoying all the privileges and special treatment.

By favoring Noble Consort Yin, Emperor Qianlong neglected all other concubines in the imperial harem, making it a lonely place.
Emperor Qianlong had a deep love for Noble Consort Yin and made numerous mistakes for her sake. Noble Consort Yin was unique, mysterious, and different from everyone else, which made Emperor Qianlong deeply infatuated with her. Within 10 years, Noble Consort Yin gave birth to 6 children for Emperor Qianlong, including 4 boys and 2 girls. The frequency with which Noble Consort Yin gave birth clearly illustrated Emperor Qianlong’s infatuation with her.
By favoring Noble Consort Yin, Emperor Qianlong neglected all other concubines in the imperial harem, making it a lonely place. The other concubines, lacking favor and unable to bear sons, resulted in a scarcity of male heirs for Emperor Qianlong. Even when Emperor Qianlong established the crown prince, the options were limited.
2. Mistaken trust
The second mistake was Emperor Qianlong’s misplaced trust in Heshen. When it comes to Heshen, everyone knows that he was exceedingly greedy and corrupt, yet he remained untouched in the Qing court.
Initially, when the emperor sent people to Heshen’s house for a search, they found nothing because Heshen had hidden all the treasures within the walls of his house. After demolishing the walls, they discovered massive amounts of precious gold and silver, a vast fortune that could have been used to assist numerous people in the Great Qing. Heshen’s boundless greed was ultimately tolerated and enabled by Emperor Qianlong.
Heshen was skilled at flattery and had a smooth tongue, which charmed Emperor Qianlong to the point of blindness. Therefore, whatever Heshen desired, Emperor Qianlong would grant him, fueling and exacerbating Heshen’s insatiable greed.
3. Mistaken choice

Emperor Qianlong’s erroneous choice for a successor was the beginning of the decline of the Great Qing Dynasty.
After conquering the Central Plains, the Qing Dynasty quickly stabilized and triumphed, ushering in a prosperous era that lasted over 100 years in Chinese history.
In order to achieve these accomplishments, apart from the talents of renowned emperors like Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Emperor Qianlong, the correct choice of a successor to pass on the legacy played a crucial role.
The abilities and qualities of the crown prince were directly and intimately linked to the future stability and harmony of the empire.
Thanks to the careful choices of previous emperors, the early period of the Qing Dynasty saw outstanding rulers, such as the powerful and strict Yongzheng or the expansive Emperor Qianlong.
Unfortunately, when it was Emperor Qianlong’s turn to choose a successor, he decided to pass on his throne to someone who was considered less talented. Due to a lack of sons, Emperor Qianlong had few options when selecting a crown prince, ultimately choosing the son of Noble Consort Yin—a concubine whom he favored the most. That person was Prince Jiaqing, later known as Emperor Gia Khanh.
Emperor Qianlong’s mistaken choice of a successor was the beginning of the decline of the Great Qing Dynasty. Emperor Gia Khanh, during his reign, implemented isolationist policies that deviated from the development of the times. In comprehensive terms, he was an emperor with mediocre qualities who did not possess the exceptional traits of the Qing Dynasty.