The Viceroy's Office: A Glimpse into Half of Qing Dynasty History

The Viceroy of Zhili's Office in Baoding is the former office of the highest military and political leader of Zhili Province during the Qing Dynasty. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, it served as the office of the Zhili Military Governor, the Inspector-General of Zhili, Luyu, and the Hebei Provincial People's Government, as well as the location of the CPC Baoding Municipal Committee. Currently, it is the best-preserved provincial-level government office from the Qing Dynasty in China and a national key cultural relic protection unit. The Viceroy of Zhili's Office was built in the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1729). The office is grand in scale, 130 meters wide from east to west, over 220 meters long from north to south, covering a total area of over 30,000 square meters. The entire office was built strictly according to Qing Dynasty regulations, facing south and divided into east, central, and west routes. The central axis houses the main buildings: the main gate, ceremonial gate, main hall, second hall, inner residence gate, official residence, and main living quarters, along with side rooms and wing rooms. It also hosts the "Viceroy of Zhili and the Viceroy's Office Exhibition." The east and west routes house the administrative offices, reception halls, and outer signing rooms, which now house the "Thematic Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Official Culture" and the "Qing Dynasty Administrative Office Culture Exhibition." The former provincial government office building houses the "Collection of Treasures Exhibition," showcasing 58 selected cultural relics (sets), including a Doucai porcelain vase with figures and poems, a blue-and-white porcelain flower vase imitating bronze ware decoration, a Han Dynasty jade statue of Sakyamuni, and a blue-and-white porcelain vase with tulip patterns. Auxiliary buildings such as the archery garden are located on the east and west sides. There are also the "Viceroy of Zhili's Integrity Culture Exhibition" and the "Fang Guancheng Thematic Exhibition." The buildings all feature cloth tile roofs and small-style hard mountain architecture, forming a typical Qing Dynasty government office complex. The Main Hall (Zhengtang), five rooms wide, was originally built in the early Ming Dynasty and converted into the main hall of the Viceroy of Zhili's Office in the eighth year of the Yongzheng reign (1730). The hall's interior is solemn and imposing, symbolizing the authority of the feudal officialdom. It was also the place where the viceroy received imperial edicts, held grand ceremonies, and conducted important government affairs. It is now restored to its appearance during Li Hongzhang's tenure as Viceroy of Zhili. The Second Hall (Tuisitang), five rooms wide, features cloth tile roofs and small-style hard mountain architecture. This hall was where the viceroy met with officials from other regions, discussed official matters, and reviewed cases every "court day" (every fifth and tenth day of the lunar month). The east chamber of the Second Hall is the meeting room, where the viceroy discussed matters with his staff, changed clothes, or rested before attending court. The west chamber is the clerical room, where staff and clerks searched or organized case files for the viceroy and drafted documents for him. The Third Hall (Guandi), five rooms wide, has a central passage room. The two rooms on the east side served as the "inner signing room," where the viceroy reviewed incoming documents and handled official business. The west chamber was the viceroy's study, where he practiced calligraphy, read, and painted. The Fourth Hall (Shangfang), surrounded by lush flowers and trees, was the living quarters of the viceroy and his family. Zhili, located in the vicinity of the capital, encompassed present-day Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, and parts of Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia. The Viceroy of Zhili held great power, overseeing military affairs, administration, salt administration, river management, and foreign affairs. Ranked first among the eight viceroys of the nation, he was the head of the Qing Dynasty viceroys and provincial governors, a leader among officials. Many important court officials served as Viceroy of Zhili, including Fang Guancheng, Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, and Yuan Shikai, with Li Hongzhang holding the position for the longest period, 25 years. Throughout its 187-year history under eight emperors, the Viceroy's Office saw 74 viceroys holding 99 terms. The history of the Viceroy's Office is incredibly rich, earning it the reputation of "one Viceroy's Office, half of Qing Dynasty history." The Viceroy of Zhili's Office has witnessed the vicissitudes of time, becoming a microcosm of the politics, economy, military, and culture of the Qing Dynasty. It not only bears the historical merits and demerits of the 74 viceroys but also greatly enriches the historical and cultural heritage of Baoding. The Viceroy of Zhili's Office Museum is located in the heart of Baoding, surrounded by abundant cultural and tourism resources and numerous specialized museums, including the Lianchi Academy Museum, Baoding Honeybee Museum, Opera Museum, Cypress Root Carving Museum, Zhili Court Museum, Baoding Water Conservancy Museum, Huai Army Office Museum, Work-Study Movement in France Memorial Hall, Bansuzhai Art Museum, Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum of North and South, Baoding Military Academy Museum, Hebei University Museum, China Ancient Animal Museum of Natural History, Baoding Taihang Mountains Museum, and many more, making it a truly unforgettable experience.