The North China’s First Escort Agency Museum (华北第一镖局博物馆), located at 22 East Street, Pingyao Ancient City, covers an area of over 1,000 square meters. The museum is divided into four main sections: the front, middle, and rear courtyards, and the upper floors. It features six exhibition rooms and two display areas that vividly and authentically recreate the unique characteristics of China’s escort agencies during the Qing Dynasty.
The museum provides detailed information about three outstanding figures from the mid-Qing Dynasty’s North China escort industry: Wang Zhengqing, known as “The Sharpshooter”; Zuo Erba, the “Iron Leg”; and Dai Erlu, a master of Xingyi Boxing. The museum offers insights into their lives, achievements, and the operations of the escort agencies they were associated with.
In ancient China, escort agencies served as an early form of insurance, emerging with the growth of commercial trade during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Their primary function was to transport large sums of money for business clients. North China’s First Escort Agency refers to three major escort agencies established in Pingyao, Qixian, and Wenshui during the Daoguang era: “Tongxinggong (同兴公),” “Taifen (太汾),” and “Changlong (昌隆),” which thrived as they catered to the commercial trade needs of the time by transporting cash and goods.
However, the rise of the piaohao system (Private Banknote), a form of early banking, led to a decline in escort agency business. The introduction of various military and police armed escorts during the Republic era further diminished the role of traditional escort agencies, leading to their gradual disappearance from the historical stage.
Today, the museum’s rear courtyard frequently hosts contemporary martial arts enthusiasts who come to practice, as well as visitors who participate in various activities. The museum not only preserves the legacy of these historical figures but also continues to engage and educate the public about the rich heritage of China’s early escort industry.
