Former Residence of Bao Guiqing

The Former Residence of Bao Guiqing

The former residence of Bao Guiqing is a cultural relic protection unit in Tianjin.

The former residence of Bao Guiqing is located at No. 81 Ping’an Street, Hebei District. This residence consists of two buildings purchased and personally designed by Bao Guiqing under the name Jide Tang Bao between 1920 and 1921. Covering an area of 7.941 mu (approximately 5,294 square meters), the complex has a total built-up area of 2,400 square meters and is divided into four sections: the main building, the rear building, the east building, and the south building. The main building served as a guest reception house, featuring three stories plus a basement, with exquisite interior decorations including finely carved wooden screens. It also had two Western-style round wooden columns supporting a space that could be used as a ballroom. On the large terrace at the southern side of the third floor, there are three pavilions—Chinese style, classical Western style, and modern Western style—making it a uniquely eclectic architectural structure blending Eastern and Western styles. The courtyard includes rockeries, gazebos, fishponds, and flower gardens. The residence is currently used as a military retirement compound and is listed as an immovable cultural relic in Tianjin that has not yet been officially designated as a protected site.

Bao Guiqing (1867–1934), courtesy name Tingjiu, was born in 1867 in Xiaowa Village, Haicheng County, Liaoning Province, to a poor farming family. At the age of 19, he joined the Huai Army under General Ye Zhichao, who held him in high regard and later sent him to study at the Yuguang Military Preparatory School and the Tianjin Beiyang Military Preparatory School. After graduation, he was promoted to positions such as company commander, battalion commander, and brigade commander.

After the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, Bao Guiqing rose rapidly through the ranks thanks to the recommendation of Duan Qirui, becoming a key figure during the Warlord Era of the Beiyang government. In 1917, as the Governor of Heilongjiang Province, he became an important member of the Fengtian Clique, and soon after also took on the role of… More details about Bao Guiqing ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Tianjin Cultural Relic Protection Units