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How did Genghis Khan and the Mongols conquer the Jin dynasty?

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Map of eastern Asia highlighting Manchuria in northeastern China, which includes the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, and part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The highlighted area borders Russia, Mongolia, and North Korea. — Manchuria The historical region of Manchuria shown with the boundaries of the modern-day Chinese provinces in its place as well as the portion of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region that is often considered part of Manchuria.

The Mongol conquest of the Jin dynasty was a protracted military campaign that began in 1211 under the leadership of Genghis Khan and concluded in 1234.12

The Mongols prepared for this invasion by first securing the allegiance of the Tangut state of Western Xia in 1209, which removed a potential threat and provided a strategic base. Genghis Khan also benefited from the expertise of foreign advisers, including defecting Chinese and Khitan nobles who were familiar with the Jin state’s conditions and territory.3

Following the capture of the Jin capital, Beijing, in 1215, the Jin maintained resistance for years. After Genghis Khan’s death in 1227, his successor, Ogödei, intensified the pressure. The final collapse of the dynasty involved a multi-pronged invasion and a brutal siege of Kaifeng (1232–1233). The Mongols ultimately secured victory by coordinating with the Song dynasty—long-standing enemies of the Jin—and overcoming the city's defenses, which included gunpowder weapons. The Jin emperor eventually committed suicide, marking the end of the dynasty.1