What was the Chinese view of Europeans, and how did interactions with Europeans impact Chinese society?

Before the two cultures had much contact with each other, they were very ignorant about the others way of life and the country itself. People in both ends had thoughts of grandeur of the others. People in Europe thought the streets of Beijing were paved in gold, as the Chinese thought the streets of Rome were carved from jade.

The Chinese became Westernized after years of European interaction.