Shandong is a coastal province on the Yellow Sea of China. It is known for its Taoist and Confucian heritage. During the 19th century, China became rapidly increasing exposed to Western influences. As a coastal province, Shandong had a significant effect on the connections between China and Western countries. Later during the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901), Shandong was one of the first places in which the Boxer Rebellion started and became one of the centers of the uprising movement. In June 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, Shandong and North China Plain had experienced growing violence and murder for several months. After the Boxers convinced that they would not be attacked by foreign weapons anymore, they transferred the groups to Beijing with a slogan of "Support the Qing government and exterminate the foreigners.