Reform or Revolution: A Difficult Choice to Make in the Social Change at the End of Qing Dynasty

The Chinese society in the last years of Qing Dynasty was confronted with the difficult choice of revolution or reform. There was the contradiction between necessity and possibility for revolution while the compulsory conditions for successful reform were lacking. Practice, however, proved reform impracticable, and the democratic revolution became undoubtedly more feasible and attractive. Only in the democratic revolution could the Chinese people continue their exploration on the road to national salvation.