Lángzhōng

Langzhong, the seat of Baoning Prefecture on the Jialing River, briefly carried responsibilities extending far beyond its own district in the early Qing. With Sichuan still unsettled, provincial examinations were held here instead of Chengdu. In 1652 the city hosted the delayed examination originally scheduled for 1651; further examinations followed in 1654, 1657 and 1660. Candidates from across Sichuan therefore came to Baoning to compete for the degree that opened the way to higher examinations and official careers.

The examination compound and educational administration concentrated this activity in the street that became known as Xuedao Street. Provincial examinations moved back to Chengdu in 1663. Langzhong's short period as an examination centre nevertheless placed the city at the heart of rebuilding civil government and recruiting educated officials after the dynastic wars.