Baoding Zhili Governor museum

Zhili, named for its direct administrative link to the imperial capital, traces its origins back to the Yuan Dynasty, when it served as the seat of the Shuntian Road Governor-General’s Office. During the Ming Dynasty, it became home to the Baoding Prefecture Office, along with the Danning Military Command and Garrison Offices, and the Deputy General’s Headquarters. In the Qing Dynasty, building on the Ming system, China continued to implement the provincial administration model.

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Li Wei

Li Wei (February 2, 1688 – December 3, 1738), courtesy name Youjie, and known by the pseudonym Qia Ting, was a native of Tongshan in Jiangnan (modern-day Lizhai Town, Dashahe Township, Feng County, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province) and became a renowned official during the Qing Dynasty. In the 56th year of the Kangxi reign (1717), Li Wei donated funds to secure the position of Yuanwailang before entering imperial service. He served through the reigns of Emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong. Deeply admired by Emperor Yongzheng, Li Wei held various high-ranking posts, including Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue, Salt and Post Road Commissioner of Yunnan, Provincial Governor of Zhejiang, Governor-General of Zhejiang, Minister of War, Acting Minister of Justice, and finally Governor-General of Zhili. Renowned for his integrity and courage in the face of powerful officials, Li Wei was always attuned to the hardships faced by ordinary people, earning him widespread respect and affection among the populace. Tragically, he passed away in the 3rd year of the Qianlong reign (1738). In recognition of his distinguished service, Emperor Qianlong ordered that Li Wei be honored with a state-sponsored funeral fitting for a Governor-General and posthumously bestowed the title "Min Da," meaning "Alert and Capable."

Zeng Guofan

Zeng Guofan (November 26, 1811 – March 12, 1872), originally named Zicheng, went by the courtesy name Bohan and the sobriquet Disheng. He was born in Xiangxiang, Hunan Province. A prominent statesman, strategist, scholar of Neo-Confucianism, and literary figure during the late Qing dynasty, Zeng is best known as the leader of the Xiang Army, a Han Chinese-led militia force that played a pivotal role in defending the Qing regime against internal and external threats. In 1838, during the 18th year of the Daoguang reign, Zeng passed the imperial examination and was appointed to the Hanlin Academy. He later rose through the ranks to become a Cabinet Scholar, followed by positions as Vice Minister of War and Vice Minister of Rites. In 1852, he was ordered to travel south to oversee the provincial civil service exams; however, on his way, he received news of his mother's passing and was granted leave to return home for mourning duties. Zeng was renowned for his emphasis on "morality" and "benevolence," deeply revering the teachings of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. The following year, in 1853, he was again instructed by the court to recruit local militias in Hunan, thus forming the famed "Xiang Army." By 1854, this newly formed force achieved a decisive victory over the Taiping rebels at Tianjia Town. In 1864, the Xiang Army successfully captured Tianjing, the rebel capital. The next year, Zeng was tasked with leading military campaigns in the north to suppress the Nian Rebellion. In 1866, he was bestowed with the first-class title of "Yiyong" Marquis by the Qing court—making him the first civilian official ever to receive such an honor. That same year also saw the establishment of the Jiangnan Arsenal, while Zeng simultaneously set up an official educational institution at his Anqing headquarters, where he oversaw the reprinting of classic Confucian texts and historical works. By 1867, Zeng had been elevated to the position of Grand Secretary. The following year, he was appointed Governor-General of Zhili Province. In 1870, he was assigned to investigate and resolve the infamous "Tianjin Incident," adopting a pragmatic approach aimed at negotiating peace with Western powers. As a result, he was soon recalled to Nanjing to resume his previous post. Tragically, Zeng passed away in 1872. Zeng Guofan’s rise to prominence left an indelible mark on the Qing dynasty, profoundly influencing its political, military, cultural, and economic landscapes. Under his leadership, China witnessed the construction of its first steamship, the establishment of the nation’s first military-industrial academy, and the dispatch of the first group of students to study in the United States. Moreover, the emergence of the Han Chinese landlord class, spearheaded by Zeng, marked a significant shift in the ethnic balance among Qing officials, gradually tilting the power dynamic toward the Han-dominated regions. This period also witnessed the birth of the "Xiangxiang School," a key literary movement that would shape classical prose in the late Qing era. Alongside Hu Linyi, Zeng was celebrated as one of the "Zeng-Hu duo," while together with Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, and Zhang Zhidong, he came to be regarded as one of the "Four Great Ministers of the Late Qing Restoration."

Li Hongzhang

Li Hongzhang (February 15, 1823 – November 7, 1901), whose given name was Zhang Tong, went by the courtesy names Jianfu and Zifu[fú], and was known as Shaoquan (alternatively Shaoquan) in his later years, adopting the pen name Yisou and the alternate sobriquet Shengxin. He was born in Hefei, Anhui Province, and became a prominent statesman, diplomat, and military leader during the late Qing dynasty of China. Commonly referred to by contemporaries as "Li Zhongtang," he was also affectionately called "Mr. Li Er," "Li Fuxiang," and "Li Wenzhong." Li Hongzhang passed the imperial examination in the 27th year of the Daoguang reign (1847). Early in his career, he followed his mentor Zeng Guofan in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion and the Nian Rebellion, earning recognition for his leadership. Later, he was tasked with forming the Huai Army, for which his military achievements earned him rapid promotions, eventually leading to his appointment as Governor-General of Zhili Province and concurrently serving as Minister of Trade for the Beiyang region. Over time, he was further elevated to the prestigious position of Grand Scholar of the Hall of Literary Glory and was ennobled as the First-Class Duke of Su Yi. During this period, Li played a pivotal role in guiding the Qing government through critical diplomatic, military, and economic challenges. He spearheaded the establishment of several influential modernization initiatives, including the Jiangnan Arsenal, the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, the Shanghai Machinery Weaving Bureau, and the Shanghai Guangfangyan Institute—key institutions that marked China's early efforts at industrial and technological reform. Additionally, he oversaw the creation of the Beiyang Fleet, one of China's most advanced naval forces at the time. However, Li's legacy was marred by significant setbacks. During the First Sino-Japanese War, strategic missteps led to the catastrophic defeat of the Beiyang Fleet, forcing Li to serve as a special envoy and sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan. In 1899, he was reappointed as Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. The following year, when the Eight-Nation Alliance launched its invasion of China, Li participated in the "Southeast Mutual Protection Agreement" and was subsequently dispatched northward to negotiate peace terms. In 1901, Li Hongzhang, representing the Qing government alongside Prince Qing Yikuang, signed the humiliating Boxer Protocol with the major powers. Tragically, just months after the treaty was finalized, Li succumbed to illness in Beijing at the age of 79. Posthumously, he was honored with the title of Grand Tutor and elevated to the rank of First-Class Duke of Su Yi, earning the posthumous honorific "Wenzhong." As a key figure in the Self-Strengthening Movement, Li Hongzhang is often regarded alongside Zeng Guofan, Zhang Zhidong, and Zuo Zongtang as one of the "Four Great Ministers Who Revived the Dynasty." Empress Dowager Cixi herself praised him as the individual who "assisted in reviving the empire and quelling its greatest crises," as well as the one who "navigated the nation through turbulent times and fostered harmony between China and foreign powers." Meanwhile, Western observers lauded him as one of the "Three Great Statesmen of His Time" and even hailed him as "China's Bismarck." Yet, despite these accolades, Li's reputation remains controversial due to his role in negotiating a series of unequal treaties on behalf of the Qing government. Moreover, allegations of personal corruption and questionable decision-making have drawn considerable criticism over the years. Li Hongzhang's extensive writings are compiled in the comprehensive collection *The Complete Works of Li Wenzhong*.

Rong Lu

Guwaljia Ronglu (April 7, 1836 – April 11, 1903), courtesy name Zhonghua, art name Lüeyuan, and known by the sobriquet "Tianshe Zhuaren," was a Manchu official from the Plain White Banner during the Qing Dynasty, primarily active during the middle and later periods of the Guangxu era. Ronglu came from a family of military officers and was appointed as an assistant minister in the Ministry of Works through hereditary privilege. During the Tongzhi era, he gained prominence under the mentorship of figures like Wen Xiang and Li Hongzao, serving successively as Minister of the Imperial Household, Minister of the Ministry of Works, and later as General of Xi'an. During the First Sino-Japanese War, entrusted with the confidence of Empress Dowager Cixi, he remained in Beijing to oversee the Imperial Guards and concurrently served as Minister of the Zongli Yamen and Minister of War. He eventually rose to the highest ranks, becoming Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall and a member of the Grand Council. He passed away in 1903 at the age of 67, posthumously honored with the title "Wenzhong" and awarded the noble rank of Duke of the First Class, along with the additional title of Marquis. His daughter, Guwaljia Youlan, became the biological mother of the last emperor, Puyi, and was adopted by Empress Dowager Cixi as her own heir. Throughout pivotal late-Qing political events such as the Hundred Days' Reform, the establishment of imperial succession in 1898, and the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, Ronglu played a complex and often controversial role. Most of his personal documents were destroyed during wartime turmoil, though later generations compiled works such as *The Collected Works of Lord Wenzhong* and *Surviving Letters of Ronglu*.

Yulu

Xitala Yulu (c. 1844–1900) was a prominent official at the end of the Qing dynasty. His courtesy name was Shoushan, and he was the son of Chonglun, the Governor of Hubei Province. A member of the Manchu Plain White Banner, Yulu held various high-ranking positions throughout his career, including Langzhong, Inspector-General of Military Affairs in Rehe, Vice Minister of Finance for Anhui, Governor of Anhui, and finally Governor-General of Huguang. In 1889, he was appointed General of Shengjing and dispatched troops to join forces with the General of Zhili in suppressing the Jindan Sect uprising in Rehe. In 1895, he was reassigned as Governor-General of Sichuan. By 1898, he had been elevated to Grand Councilor, Minister of Rites, and Minister in charge of the Zongli Yamen—the Qing government’s foreign affairs office. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed General of Zhili once again, tasked with quelling the Boxer Rebellion—but faced repeated defeats. The following year, when the Eight-Nation Alliance captured Dagu and advanced toward Tianjin, Yulu shifted his strategy from suppression to "conciliation" toward the Boxers. However, by July, Tianjin had fallen to the alliance forces, forcing him to retreat with his defeated troops to the fortified stronghold of Beicang. In early August, overwhelmed by the advancing enemy, he fled to Yangcun, where he ultimately took his own life by ingesting poison.

Yuan Shikai

Yuan Shikai (September 16, 1859 – June 6, 1916) was a prominent political and military figure in modern Chinese history, renowned as the leader of the Beiyang warlords. Known by his courtesy name Weiting (also spelled Wei Ting) and his sobriquets Rong'an and Master of Xixin Pavilion, he belonged to the Han ethnic group and hailed from Xiangcheng, Henan Province—hence the nickname "Yuan Xiangcheng." In his early career, Yuan rose to prominence on the Korean Peninsula before returning to China to train the New Army at Xiaozhan in Tianjin. During the late Qing reforms, he actively championed modernization efforts. Amidst the tumult of the Xinhai Revolution, he pressured Emperor Puyi of the Qing Dynasty into abdicating, subsequently becoming the provisional president of the Republic of China. In 1913, he suppressed the Second Revolution and was later elected as the first president of the Republic of China. By 1914, he enacted the "Constitution of the Republic of China," but in December 1915, he declared himself emperor, renaming the country the "Chinese Empire" and adopting the reign title "Hongxian." This move, known as the "Hongxian Imperial System," was originally scheduled to culminate in an elaborate coronation ceremony on January 1, 1916. However, facing widespread opposition from across the nation, Yuan was forced to abandon his imperial ambitions just 83 days later. Tragically, he succumbed to uremia on June 6, 1916, and was laid to rest in Anyang, Henan. Yuan Shikai’s legacy remains deeply polarized: some label him a "tyrant and traitor" or a "great thief who usurped the nation," while others acknowledge his pivotal role in advancing China’s modernization, hailing him as "the foremost reformer of his generation." Ultimately, Yuan Shikai stands as one of the most controversial figures in modern Chinese history.

Chen Kuilong

Chen Kuilong (May 25, 1857 – August 17, 1948), courtesy name Xiao Shi (also written as Xiao Shi or Shao Shi), was known by his pseudonyms Yong'an, Yong Sou, and Hua Jin Zhu Lou. His residences included the "Hua Jin Lou" and "Song Shou Tang" estates. He was a prominent political figure during the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republican era. Born in Guizhou's Guizhu (modern-day Guiyang), he originally hailed from Chongren County, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province. Chen passed the provincial-level examination (xiucai) in 1872 during the Tongzhi reign, earned the juren title in 1875 under the Guangxu reign, and secured the jinshi degree in 1886. Rising from humble beginnings, he enjoyed a remarkably successful official career spanning the reigns of Emperors Tongzhi, Guangxu, and Xuantong. Over the years, he held several key positions, including Vice Governor of Shun Tian Prefecture, Provincial Administrator of Henan, Governor of Henan, Governor of Jiangsu, Governor-General of Sichuan, and finally Governor-General of Zhili. In 1909, he was appointed Governor-General of Zhili and concurrently served as Minister of the Beiyang Court. During Zhang Xun's brief restoration of the monarchy in 1917, Chen served as an advisory minister in the Privy Council. Notably, he opposed the abolition of the imperial examination system. In 1912, Chen took leave and resigned from public office, retiring to Shanghai. He passed away in 1948 and was buried at the foot of Santai Mountain in Hangzhou.

Governor's Mansion Story

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No. 301, Yuhua West Road, Baoding City, Hebei Province

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