Former Site of the Jiangbei Patrol House

Former Site of the Jiangbei Patrol House

The Former Site of the Jiangbei Patrol House is a cultural heritage site protected at the district level in Jiangbei District.

After Ningbo Port was opened as one of the five treaty ports in the 22nd year of the Daoguang reign (1842), merchant ships from Britain, France, the United States, and other countries, along with foreigners, came and went frequently. With them came troublemakers from various nations, which affected public security. In the 3rd year of the Tongzhi reign (1864), upon approval from the Governor of Zhejiang, the Ningbo–Shaoxing Circuit Office established a patrol house (attached to the Works Bureau) on the Bund of the north bank of the river, exercising all authority over public security and criminal matters in the commercial district of the north bank. To better “enable patrols to drive out troublemakers of all nationalities,” foreign personnel were hired as police captains. Control over civil and criminal cases on the north bank was in the hands of Westerners, turning the patrol house into a tool for foreigners to oppress the Chinese. Yet the Qing government dared not intervene, which sparked intense anger among the local populace. At that time, figures such as Chen Xiachang jointly petitioned the Qing government to reclaim sovereignty. Under strong public pressure, the Qing government reclaimed police authority in July of the 34th year of the Guangxu reign (1908) and abolished the patrol house while reorganizing the Works Bureau. The patrol house has since become a historical relic.

One existing three-bay, three-story brick-and-wood building in traditional Chinese style.