Battle of Chinhai

Battle context

The British capture of Chinhai on 10 October 1841 had immediate operational consequences in the First Opium War. By taking the city, British forces under Hugh Gough were able to advance on Ningbo, which fell without resistance three days later on 13 October. The garrison defending Chinhai consisted of Manchu and Mongol Bannermen numbering between 8,000 and 9,000, substantially outnumbering the roughly 2,098 British troops engaged. Despite this numerical disadvantage, British forces inflicted 157 casualties on the Qing defenders. The fall of both Chinhai and Ningbo extended British control deeper into Zhejiang province and demonstrated the Qing dynasty's inability to hold fortified positions against British expeditionary forces during this phase of the war.