The Xinhai Revolution , also known as the Chinese Revolution or the Revolution of 1911, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty  and established the Republic of China . The revolution was named Xinhai  because it occurred in 1911, the year of the Xinhai  stem-branch in the sexagenary cycle of the Chinese calendar. The revolution consisted of many revolts and uprisings. The turning point was the Wuchang uprising on 10 October 1911, which was the result of the mishandling of the Railway Protection Movement. The revolution ended with the abdication of the six-year-old Last Emperor, Puyi, on 12 February 1912, that marked the end of 2,000 years of imperial rule and the beginning of China's early republican era .. Why was there an uprising?