A must-see panoramic guide to the governor’s mansion

The Zhili governor’s mansion is the best-preserved Qing dynasty government office today. Zhili corresponds to present-day Baoding in Hebei Province. It was once the provincial capital and had the duty of protecting the capital, so the Zhili governor held a high-ranking position, usually a first-rank official. The governor’s office faces south and follows traditional official building regulations, centered on a central axis with symmetrical left and right sides, reflecting the strict hierarchical system of ancient times. The Zhili governor’s mansion is not only a well-preserved ancient building but also a condensed history of the Qing dynasty. It witnessed many major historical events, including the suppression of internal rebellions, the Self-Strengthening Movement, reforms before and after the First Sino-Japanese War, the Hundred Days’ Reform, and the late Qing New Policies. The longest-serving governor was none other than Li Hongzhang, who was also highly respected locally and enjoyed great prestige at the time.