It is December 17, 2004. A man got out of the steamship 115 years ago who is Zhang Zhidong, the newly appointed viceroy of Huguang (Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi).

      From the day on, Zhang started his governance in Hubei which we now call New System Reform.

December 18, 1889 has a significance in Hubei and China history as Zhang Zhidong received the seal of viceroy.

During Zhang’s 20-year in Hubei, the province underwent a modern emergence in fields as industry, education, new army, business, agriculture, city construction, etc. Because of Zhang, Wuhan, the provincial capital, jumped to an international trading port and because of him, Hubei jumped to one of the most important modern industry centers in late Qing Dynasty. Hubei also played a leading role in the establishment of new-styled school, sending students abroad and the training of new army. All of the above ultimately promote the success of 1911 Revolution.

Reporters from cnhubei.com paid visits to the footmarks of Zhang Zhidong. Hanyangmen wharf is where Zhang’s steamship anchored 115 years ago.

Wuchang Shipbuilding factory is where the former viceroy’s house was located. Zhang has lived there for 19 years and wrote a new page in Hubei’s modern industry.