Former Site of the Zizhulin Barracks

Former Site of the Zizhulin Barracks

The former site of the Zizhulin Barracks is a cultural relic protection unit of Tianjin.

The former site of the Zizhulin Barracks is located at No. 1-5 Chifeng Road, Heping District, and is a cultural relic protection unit of Tianjin.

Also known as the former French Barracks, it was originally established by Li Hongzhang in 1879 as the Beiyang Navy Office and was occupied by the French military in 1900. In 1915, the authorities of the former French Concession in Tianjin rebuilt the French Barracks, which included soldier dormitories and a headquarters. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the French Barracks were used as dormitories for the Tianjin Port Authority.

The Zizhulin Barracks covers an area of over 7,000 square meters, with a built-up area of 2,660 square meters. The structure consists of three parts: one three-story barracks building, two two-story barracks buildings, and two two-story small houses. The layout of the barracks imitates the form of a traditional large courtyard, and there is a drill ground within the compound. Additionally, there are five brick-and-wood hybrid buildings with red tile sloping roofs on top and plain brick walls on the exterior. The main façade of each floor features wide-span cement-poured verandas, and the eaves are inscribed with the words “Built in 1915.” Exterior iron staircases connect the upper and lower levels, making it a typical military barracks designed for preparedness. The front façade of the first floor is supported by square brick pillars, with channel steel and flat iron as brackets. A wooden platform is constructed above to form upper and lower verandas, with an iron-framed wooden staircase at one end providing direct access to the second floor.

Today, the Zizhulin Barracks are no longer home to soldiers but have become a place for people’s daily life and work. This land and its buildings have grown peaceful and tranquil.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Tianjin