The Parliament Building of the Republic of China

The Parliament Building of the Republic of China

The Parliament Building of the Republic of China is a protected cultural heritage site of Beijing.

The site of the Parliament Building of the Republic of China in Beijing is located at No. 57 Xuanwumen West Street, Xicheng District. In the second year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1910), a consultative body—the Council of State—was established on the former site of the imperial elephant stables from the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the Xinhai Revolution, it was converted into the Parliament Building. The parliament consisted of a Senate and a House of Representatives, with the Senate located to the west and the House of Representatives to the east. The Senate was housed in the late Qing Law School, which is now the printing plant of Xinhua News Agency. The House of Representatives was located on the former site of the Council of State, which is now within the compound of Xinhua News Agency.

After the fall of the Beiyang Government, the parliament's location was taken over by the Law School of Peking University. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese invaders converted it into Xinmin Academy. From 1946 to early 1949, it was used by the Fourth Branch of Peking University. When North China University relocated from Shijiazhuang to Beijing, this site became the home of its Third Department, and later it was repurposed as the site of Xinhua News Agency.

With the passage of time, some of the original buildings of the Republic of China’s Beijing Parliament have been lost, leaving only structures such as the Round Building and the Red Building of the old parliament. Behind Xinhua News Agency lies the Parliament Building of the Republic of China, which was once the meeting place for both houses of parliament and now serves as the main auditorium of Xinhua News Agency. The building faces south and is constructed of brick and wood. Though simple in design, it has a solemn and dignified appearance.

To the west of the Red Building is the famous Round Building of the Parliament. The Round Building served as the office building of the parliament, with the second floor being the meeting place for the president of the Beiyang Government and the speaker of parliament. The name “Round Building” is somewhat “misleading”—most would assume it refers to a circular structure, but this building is actually square. It earned the name due to its elliptical main structure. To the north of the Parliament Building are two Red Buildings, divided into northern and southern sections. They are named for their red-painted exterior corridors and pillars, and were used as parliamentary offices, though some say they also served as dormitories for members of parliament.

The site of the Parliament Building of the Republic of China is located at No. 57 Xuanwumen West Street, Xicheng District. Built in 1911, it served as the venue for parliamentary sessions and office work. The surviving structures include the Parliament Auditorium, with a construction area of approximately 2,100 square meters. To the north of the auditorium are the Parliament Offices, and to the east is the Parliament Library. Because the parliament was located here, the surrounding alleyway was once called Parliament Street. This site is a key cultural relic under protection in Beijing.

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Municipal-Level Protected Cultural Heritage Sites in Beijing