Former Site of the Jinzhou Vice-Governor's Office

Former Site of the Jinzhou Vice-Governor's Office

The former site of the Jinzhou Vice-Governor's Office is a cultural relic protection unit of Liaoning Province.

The former site of the Jinzhou Governor's Office is located on the north side of East Street in Jinzhou City. The original building was constructed during the Ming Dynasty. It is a four-courtyard complex covering an area of over 2,600 square meters, with 13 ancient buildings totaling more than 60 rooms. All structures are symmetrically arranged along the central axis, with the last courtyard being the original residence of the Vice-Governor.

In February 1843, during the 23rd year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty, to strengthen the coastal defenses of Jinzhou (including Lushun and Dalian Bay), the Xiongyue Vice-Governor's Office was relocated to Jinzhou and renamed the Jinzhou Vice-Governor's Office, under the jurisdiction of the Shengjing General. A Vice-Governor of the second rank was appointed, along with an official seal office divided into a Left Division and a Right Division, each staffed with officials such as scribes, clerks, and copyists. The Jinzhou Vice-Governor had authority over the Jinzhou Commandant, the Lushun Naval Commandant, the Gaiping City Defender, the Xiongyue City Defender, and the Fuzhou City Defender. In 1894, the First Sino-Japanese War broke out, and Jinzhou City was captured by Japanese forces, forcing the office to evacuate. In 1895, after the "Triple Intervention" by Russia, Germany, and France led to the return of Liaodong, the Jinzhou Vice-Governor's Office was reinstated. From March to May 1898, when Russia forcibly leased Lüshun and Dalian, the jurisdiction of the Jinzhou Vice-Governor's Office was limited to within Jinzhou City. On July 27, 1900, Russia, under the pretext that "Chinese officials were colluding with the Boxers," forcibly occupied Jinzhou City, unilaterally abolishing its autonomy, and the Jinzhou Vice-Governor's Office was withdrawn to Fengtian, thus ending its 57-year political role. Only the nominal title of the Vice-Governor’s Office remained in Jinzhou. In February 1904, the Russo-Japanese War broke out, and on May 26 of the same year, Japanese forces occupied Jinzhou and immediately established the Jinzhou Military-Government Office, which operated from within the former Vice-Governor's Office, exercising governmental powers. In 1905, the Military-Government Office was renamed the Jinzhou Civil Affairs Sub-Office, and in 1930, it was further reorganized into the Jinzhou Police Office. It was not until December 1945 that this historic government building truly returned to the hands of the people of Jinzhou. The Jin County Public Security Bureau used this classic official building as its office for over half a century. In 2001, the Jinzhou District government demolished the original structure and rebuilt it on the same site.

Protected Area: Within the building and within 10 meters outside the outer wall foundation.

Construction Control Zone: A Class II construction control zone extending 150 meters beyond the protected area.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Liaoning Province