至少从表面上看,中国城市政府在20世纪头十年发生了转变。在经历了三年地方市政自治的试验之后,1909年,中央政府颁布了《城镇乡自治章程》。在这个章程中,城市第一次被承认是拥有权力的市政管理单位。很多实质性的权力从原来由皇帝任命的知县手中转移到由选举产生的代表团体手里。官方机构和市政机构有了新的使命,特别是创立警察,组建部分讲授近代课程的初级学堂。当时人们认为,这是一次 At least superficially, China’s urban government changed in the first decade of the 20th century. After three years of local municipal autonomy trials, in 1909, the Central Government promulgated the “constitution of township self-government.” For the first time in this charter, cities are recognized as municipal administrations that have power. Much of the substantive power was transferred from the magistrate’s county seat originally designated by the emperor to the body of the elected representative. Official agencies and municipal agencies have a new mission, in particular the creation of police and the establishment of some elementary schools for teaching modern courses. At that time, people thought it was time