Concessions in China refer to areas where foreign powers had special rights and privileges during the 19th and early 20th centuries. These zones were established after the Opium Wars and included cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong, where foreign nations controlled trade and governance, often leading to significant economic influence. The existence of these concessions highlighted China's struggles with imperialism and its efforts to modernize. Over time, many concessions were returned to Chinese control, especially after the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, which marked the end of imperial rule and the beginning of a more unified Chinese state.