How did the abdication of the Qing emperor end imperial rule in China?

The abdication of the Qing emperor, Puyi, on February 12, 1912, marked the formal end of the 268-year Qing dynasty and China’s 2,000-year-old imperial system.123

This conclusion was the result of a convergence of revolutionary uprisings and political maneuvering. Following the outbreak of the Chinese Revolution in 1911, the imperial court recalled Yuan Shikai to suppress the rebellion using his elite Beiyang Army. However, Yuan played a double game: he stripped the court of its power while simultaneously negotiating with revolutionary leaders.14

Sun Yat-sen, who had been elected provisional president by the National Assembly, recognized the weakness of his regime and reached a deal with Yuan. To facilitate a peaceful transition, Sun resigned his position. The final imperial decree of abdication, which included a passage inserted by Yuan to authorize him to organize a republican government, effectively transferred authority from the monarchy to the new republic, ending imperial rule.341