Qingzhou Prefecture
Qingzhou Prefecture was a fu that existed in central Shandong from 1367 to 1913, its administrative center was in today's Qingzhou City.
History
During the Yuan dynasty, the region was administered as Yidu Circuit, under the authority of the Shandong East–West Circuit Pacification Commission. In 1367, during the regime of Zhu Yuanzhang, Yidu Circuit was renamed as Qingzhou Prefecture. It governed one subprefecture and thirteen counties:Yidu, Linzi, Boxing, Gaoyuan, Le'an, Shouguang, Changle, Linqu, Anqiu, Zhucheng, Mengyin, and Juzhou, which administered Yishui and Rizhao.
In the early Qing dynasty, the prefecture governed Antong Guard, one subprefecture, and thirteen counties. During the Yongzheng reign, Juzhou became directly subordinate, and the counties of Mengyin, Yishui, and Rizhao were reassigned and later incorporated under Yi. Boshan was newly established. In the 7th year of Qianlong, the Guard was abolished.
The prefecture then governed eleven counties:
Yidu, Boshan, Linzi, Boxing, Gaoyuan, Le'an, Shouguang, Linqu, Anqiu, Changle, and Zhucheng.
The prefecture was officially classified as “important, populous, and difficult”. It served as the seat of the Denglai–Qing–Jiao Circuit, with a deputy commander stationed there. From Yongzheng Era to the collapse of Qing dynasty, Qingzhou was one of eleventh Manchu garrison cities in China, serving as the stronghold for Manchu-rule in this region. Many of those soldiers from Qingzhou garrison died in the First Opium War
After the Xinhai Revolution, the nationwide reform to abolish prefectures and convert them into counties was implemented, and the prefecture system was abolished.