Abstract: Yu Lianyuan was primarily an official who rose to power through traditional education and the imperial examination system. Serving in the capital for thirty years, he lacked knowledge of foreign affairs. He had been honored as an “impartial and incorruptible Censor” because of his fierce inquisition and hard lined criticism of dignitaries and their foreign dealings. However, since he started working in the provinces, particularly on Shanghai Road, his image as a member of the “clean stream party” gradually changed in the process due to unavoidable frequent contact with foreigners. Practical and openminded, he became famous as a capable specialist in foreign affairs, wellknown mostly for his active role in contracting the treaties of “mutual defense in southeast China.” Yu’s transformation is significant insofar as it enables us to understand the becoming of the officials, who were in charge of foreign affairs during the late Qing Dynasty.

Key words: Yu Lianyuan, impartial and incorruptible Censor, Shanghai Road, foreign affairs, “mutual defense in southeast China&rdquo, 