Former Site of the Heilongjiang Military Governor's Office

Former Site of the Heilongjiang Military Governor's Office

The Former Site of the Heilongjiang Military Governor's Office is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Heilongjiang Military Governor's Office was the highest political command authority established by the Republic of China after the Xinhai Revolution in Heilongjiang Province during China’s modern period. It served as the political, economic, military, and cultural center of Heilongjiang during the Republican era. During this time, the aspirations of the Chinese people for independence, progress, and catching up with the world spurred reflection, transformation, and renewal of traditional thought, reflecting the Chinese people’s diverse explorations of modern ideologies. This was a unique historical period and one that deserves special attention.

The Heilongjiang Military Governor's Office is located at the intersection of Buque Street and Zhonghua Road in Jianhua District, Qiqihar, to the north of the City Museum. The site was originally the private residence of the Qiqihar Vice Commander-in-Chief built in the 11th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, also known as the "Da Ren Fu" (officials' residence). In the late Qing Dynasty, when Cheng Dequan was acting as the Governor of Heilongjiang, construction began on the site of the Da Ren Fu. After Zhou Shumu took over as governor, the building was completed. It was initially called the Governor-General's Office, and later renamed the Military Governor's Office.

Although the exact time of the office's initial construction cannot be confirmed, if calculated from Zhou Shumu’s term as acting Governor of Heilongjiang in 1908, it has withstood nearly a hundred years of history. The original architectural complex of the Military Governor's Office covered an area of over 20,000 square meters, with more than 10,000 square meters still preserved today.

The original Military Governor's Office was a typical Qing-style quadrangle courtyard, with the main structure built from blue bricks and topped with an iron sheet roof. The main building had two stories, surrounded by three single-story buildings. It incorporated elements of Western architectural design while maintaining the characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture, giving it a unique style. With its subdued color palette, simple and elegant layout, it was both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The entire complex faced south and was divided into three courtyards. The main rooms and wing rooms were tall and spacious. The southern wall was built with bricks, with wooden structures above, creating a sense of openness. The layout was practical and graceful. The central courtyard featured a grand and imposing main hall and side rooms. Below the southern wall was brickwork, with wooden structures above, creating a bright and open feel. The secondary courtyard had two wing rooms, with carved beams and painted rafters, adding to the refined atmosphere. The eastern courtyard had two wing rooms, with inscriptions reading “Cheng Zheng” (Honest Governance) and “Qing Min” (Clear Governance).

In the middle of the courtyard stood a pavilion called “Ji Xiang Yuan” (Pavilion of Contemplation). Zhang Chao Yong, a renowned scholar from the late Qing and early Republican period, wrote in his “Record of the Elegant Gathering at Ji Xiang Yuan” that “Behind the Heilongjiang Governor’s Office there is a pavilion standing gracefully, with wide eaves and long corridors, hollow inside yet towering above, inscribed by Song Tiemei, the Governor of Jilin, with the name ‘Ji Xiang’ (Contemplation), as he was unable to return home and thus expressed his longing.” This provides a clear description of the pavilion’s structure and the meaning behind its name. Twelve years later, he mentioned Ji Xiang Yuan again in a poem to a friend: “The guest in Ji Xiang Yuan, full of heroic spirit in the past,” and “The famed garden of contemplation, snowflakes falling, a recluse in the land of Longsha, years enriched.” Now, the building no longer exists, and we can only imagine its former glory through these beautiful words.

Although the Xinhai Revolution overthrew the Qing Dynasty and established the Republic, the power was seized by Yuan Shikai. Officials and troops from the Qing Dynasty simply transformed into figures of the new republic. In March 1912, Song Xiaolian, the former Qing Dynasty governor, became the Heilongjiang Governor and Civil Affairs Commissioner, consolidating both military and political power.

Although Song Xiaolian came from a feudal bureaucratic background, he had a patriotic heart. He was very familiar with the situation along the Sino-Russian border and fought for China’s rights according to treaties against Russian expansionist activities, which made Russia deeply resent him. On June 25, 1913, Russia used the excuse of arresting a Russian spy posing as a journalist in Qiqihar to deploy 3,000 troops to occupy Fularji. They pressured the Beijing government to unconditionally remove Song Xiaolian. Succumbing to Russian pressure, the Beijing government transferred him out, citing his “poor adaptability.”

Later, Bi Guifang, who had served as a diplomat at the Chinese Embassy in Russia, was appointed as the Heilongjiang Governor. In October of the same year, the Governor’s Office was renamed the Heilongjiang Military Protectorate Office, with Zhu Qinglan as the Military Protector of Heilongjiang. In 1916, Zhu Qinglan was transferred to Beijing, and the Beiyang Government appointed Bi Guifang to oversee military affairs in Heilongjiang. After Li Yuanhong became President, he officially appointed Bi Guifang as the acting Military Governor of Heilongjiang. In September 1917, Bao Guiqing succeeded Bi Guifang as the Military Governor. In 1919, Sun Leshi became the Military Governor of Heilongjiang.

In 1921, Wu Junsheng became the Military Governor. Known as “Wu the Big Tongue,” Wu Junsheng was only the third-ranking figure in the Fengtian Clique and had various peculiar habits and absurd ways. A banner hung in his office read: “Since ancient times, great generals loved fine horses, and beauties have always belonged to heroes.” Aside from his love for women and fine horses, he also liked monkeys. A large part of the backyard of the prestigious Governor’s Office was occupied by horse stables and monkey enclosures. Wu had over a thousand fine horses and many monkeys of all sizes, all cared for by specialized personnel and funded with public money. He often watched the horses and played with the monkeys, turning the stables and enclosures into places for soliciting bribes and seeking official positions. He lifted the ban on opium, leading to the proliferation of opium dens across the province, yet he lined his own pockets.

In 1928, Wu Junsheng was killed in the Huanggutun Incident. His nephew, Wu Tailai, temporarily took charge of military affairs in Heilongjiang. In June, Wan Fulin became the Heilongjiang Military Administrator, also serving as Commander of the Heilongjiang Security Forces. In February 1929, Wan Fulin was appointed Deputy Commander of the Northeast Border Defense Forces stationed in Jiang, while the Governor’s Office was reorganized into the Deputy Commander’s Office of the Northeast Border Defense Forces in Jiang, located at the former site of the Governor’s Office in Qiqihar. After the “September 18th Incident,” Wan Fulin evaded the resistance war and remained in Beijing. Ma Zhanshan was appointed in a time of crisis, acting as the Chairman of Heilongjiang Province and Commander of the military, overseeing the Deputy Commander’s Office.

Over the 38 years of the Republic, there were twelve Military Governors who wielded power here. However, the most noteworthy was Ma Zhanshan. With experience as a warlord and a patriotic heart, he initiated the Jiangqiao Resistance, the first battle of the War of Resistance against Japan, demonstrating the heroic spirit of the Chinese people in resisting foreign aggression. His patriotism and national integrity continue to educate and inspire future generations.

The Military Governor’s Office stands as a witness to the eventful history of Qiqihar. Today, this centenarian “elder” is being carefully protected by the people of Qiqihar.

Due to the aging structure, years of neglect led to foundation subsidence, causing wall cracks and posing a constant risk of collapse. This drew high attention from the municipal Party committee and government, which held several meetings to discuss renovation plans. Finally, in July 2003, over 40 households were relocated, and large-scale renovations were carried out. This brought the century-old building back to life.

In May 2013, the State Council (State Council Document [2013] No. 13) announced the Former Site of the Heilongjiang Military Governor's Office as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Scenic Area Address: Northeast corner of the intersection of Buque Street and Zhonghua Road, Jianhua District, Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province

Transportation: Take bus routes 101, 103, 106, 10, 11, 104, 610, etc., in Qiqihar City and get off at Jiefangmen Station.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units