Liaocheng County Yamen

Liaocheng County Yamen

Liaocheng County Yamen is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

Liaocheng County Yamen is located on the west side of Guangyue Tower in the “Water City” of Liaocheng, in the middle section of Louxi Street. The entire yamen faces south with a north orientation, follows a central axis, and features left civil (officials) and right military (troops) sections, front administrative area and rear residential quarters, reflecting the traditional ritual system of yamens during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The north-south axis is 193.38 meters long, the east-west width is 95 meters, covering an area of 26 mu, approximately over 17,000 square meters, with more than 200 rooms. The buildings include memorial archways, screen walls, gates, halls, rooms, offices, pavilions, courtyards, galleries, and inner residences. The current architectural scale was reconstructed on the original site based on records from the Liaocheng County Annals.

Liaocheng County Yamen was first built during the Ming Dynasty. For six hundred years through the Ming and Qing dynasties, it served as the “political center” of Liaocheng. Historical records indicate that in the second year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, county magistrate Jiang Zizhao oversaw the construction of this yamen, which underwent multiple renovations in later years. In the first year of the Tianshun era (the second reign title of the Ming Emperor Yingzong, Zhu Qizhen), County Magistrate Mao Ji led a major repair; in the sixteenth year of the Wanli era (Ming Emperor ShenZong, Zhu Yijun), County Magistrate Han Zilian added the Lixian Pavilion; in the thirty-third year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, County Magistrate Xia Bin renovated the Second Hall; and in the second year of the Jiaqing reign, County Magistrate Ke Putongwu renovated the Main Hall. Over 200 magistrates served here, and the county annals record quite a few “good magistrates,” such as Wu Yin who served during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, Yang Shijian during the Shunzhi era, and Xie Minglong during the Kangxi era. They cared for the people, punished evil and promoted good, helped the poor and supported the weak, bringing benefits to the populace and earning the respect of generations of Liaocheng residents.

During the Republic of China period, the Administrative Inspectorate Office of the Sixth District of Shandong Province was once located here. After 1949, it was successively used by the Administrative Inspectorate Office of the Liaocheng District of the former Pingyuan Province, and the Liaocheng District Commissioner’s Office of Shandong Province.

“One clean county yamen reflects half of official culture.” The yamen includes structures such as the Xuanhua Archway, screen wall, Jingshan Pavilion, Shenming Pavilion, main gate, yamen runners’ room, Lixian Pavilion, ceremonial gate, Six Offices (Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Punishment, and Public Works), Three Shifts Courtyard, Zhongshen Hall, County Magistrate’s Office, Chief Clerk’s Office, Recorder’s Office, Sibu Hall, County Magistrate’s Residence, Chief Clerk’s Residence, Sansheng Hall, Tuisi Garden, East Accounting Room, West Storage Room, and Kitchen.

Today, Liaocheng County Yamen welcomes guests and tourists from around the world with its unique architectural style, precious artistic value, and profound historical culture.