Question

Why did Guang Xu's attempts at reform fail?

Answer 1

Many conservatives and the Empress Dowager Ci Xi opposed Guang Xu's attempts to modernize the government bureaucracy. Ultimately, Guang Xu was imprisoned. His supporters were also imprisoned or exiled, ending the reform movement.

Answer 2

emperor guangxu's efforts to reform and modernize china failed because many qing officials saw these reforms as threats and placed guangxu under arrest effectively reversing his reforms.