Jiaozhou Governor's Hall, Former German colonial government building in Shinan District, Qingdao, China
Jiaozhou Governor's Hall is a four-storey building with a U-shaped plan, facing south toward Qingdao Bay with its back to Governor's Hill. Its granite exterior, steep red-tiled roof and arched main portal with a broad stone stair to the second floor were designed by Friedrich Mahlke and built by F. H. Schmidt & Co. between 1903 and 1906.
Built between 1904 and 1906 by German architect Mahlke, it initially served as the colonial administration center. Japanese military forces later occupied it as their headquarters during two separate periods of occupation.
The building incorporates European Renaissance elements with a three-part composition, featuring 39 granite steps leading to the second-floor main entrance lobby.
The building faces Qingdao Bay at 11 Yishui Road, with its back to Observatory Hill, and the broad stone steps from the street lead up to the second-floor entrance. It now houses the standing committees of the Qingdao People's Congress and the city's CPPCC, so the interior is not open to visitors; the granite walls and red-tiled roof are seen from the street.
The building's plan is shaped like the Chinese character 凹, with a projecting centre and corners; its main entrance is reached by a wide stone stair from the street, leading directly to the second floor. The red-tiled roof and granite walls were designed by Friedrich Mahlke in 1901–1902, and the firm F. H. Schmidt began construction in 1903.
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