Baobingtang

Baobingtang

Baobingtang, built in 1909, is the ancestral hall of Zhang Zhidong, governor of the two lakes in the late Qing Dynasty. It is also an important building in the centenary of the 1911 Revolution and a memorial hall of Zhang Zhidong. It is located in the south of Sheshan mountain, Wuchang, Wuhan, in Shouyi Park, east of Hubei Provincial Library.

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Development history

Baobingtang is a memorial hall for Zhang Zhidong, governor of the two lakes in the late Qing Dynasty. It is located in the south of Sheshan mountain in Wuchang. In Shouyi Park, east of Hubei Provincial Library.

In 1907, Zhang Zhidong was called to Beijing to confer a bachelor degree in tirenge. Zhang Zhidong, governor of Huguang, was transferred to Hubei by his subordinates. In the summer of 1909, he raised funds to build the hall. In October of this year, Zhang Zhidong passed away, but he left a place of interest in Hubei.

Main attractions

There were couplets, stone platforms and steles with head portraits in the hall. Before the cultural revolution, there were still inscriptions of "Prince Taibao" on the remnant tablets, and there were also exquisite models of the Yellow Crane Tower on the table of the Eight Immortals in the middle.

"Baobingtang" was repaired in 1953. It is of brick and wood structure, with stone foundation, three rooms wide, nine ridges and four slope tops, surrounded by veranda under the eaves. It is a rare single-layer building with eaves and mountain style. Surrounded by flowers and trees, decorated with rockery and Lake stone, the scenery is pleasant.

Zhang Zhidong

Zhang Zhidong (1837-1909), a native of Zhili (now Hebei Province), was named Xiaoda, Xiangtao, Hugong and baobing. In 1863, he became a Jinshi and was awarded the title of editor of the Imperial Academy. From 1867 to 1873, he served as the academic administrator of Hubei Province. In 1874, he was appointed as Xuezheng of Sichuan and Xunfu of Shanxi. In 1883, when the Sino French war broke out, he was appointed governor of Guangdong and Guangxi for advocating resistance. In July 1889, he was transferred to the governor of Huguang. He was promoted to minister of military aircraft in 1906. During the 17 years of governor Hubei, Zhang Zhidong strongly advocated opening up new learning, reforming military administration and revitalizing industry. As a result, Hubei became the center of the new Westernization policy in the later period of China. What Zhang Zhidong did in his life is most praised by later generations for his historical contribution in the process of Chinese education from feudal tradition to modernization.

Zhang Jixi, one of his disciples, once said: "the public often says that China is not poor in wealth, but in talents. Therefore, it is the first task of seeking talents and running the country to set up schools." In his book Zhang Zhidong and China's educational reform, American scholar William Ayers highly praised Zhang Zhidong's contribution to China's educational reform. "In Zhang Zhidong's life, China's educational form has undergone fundamental changes, and his efforts are of decisive significance.". Su Yunfeng, a Taiwan scholar, spoke highly of Zhang Zhidong's historic contribution to China's education reform: "the most important factor for the success of Hubei's education reform is Zhang Zhidong's leadership, and Zhang Zhidong's contribution to the education reform is not limited to Hubei, but has national significance.

It is because of Zhang Zhidong's contribution that Chinese education began to move towards the road of modernization. " During his stay in Hubei Province, Zhang Zhidong devoted himself to reforming the old academies and establishing new academies. Under the leadership of Zhang Zhidong, Hubei education gradually formed a regional modern education system through the development from low level to higher level, from ordinary to professional, from provincial capital to county, and its education scale and quality were in the leading position in the country at that time.

In this historical process, under the specific planning and personal guidance of Zhang Zhidong, self-improvement school, military school and agricultural school were successively established in Hubei Province. Hubei Institute of technology, the predecessor of Wuhan University of science and technology, was born in this historical period under the planning and guidance of Zhang Zhidong.

Zhang Zhidong was known as "Hugong" and "baobing old man" in his later years. He was honest and self-supporting all his life. Although he handled 20 million yuan of silver, he was buried with a memorial ceremony.

Address: Shouyi Park, Wuluo Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan

Longitude: 114.312257

Latitude: 30.54183

Tel: 027-88870063 (Shouyi Park)

Ticket information: free.