The Chinese government had long denied the European countries and the United States a diplomatic presence in the imperial capital of Beijing. However, the Convention of Peking after China's defeat in the Second Opium War of 1856–60, required the Qing Dynasty government to permit diplomatic representatives to live in Beijing. The area around "Dong Jiangmi Xiang" was opened for the establishment of foreign legations. The Zongli Yamen was established as a foreign office of the Qing Dynasty to deal with the foreigners.