Abstract: County administration in the late Qing Dynasty was fraught with malpractices in the appointment and review of officials, the organizational structure, and financial administration. These malpractices were indicative of the lack of rationalization in pre- modern county administration. In the late Qing Dynasty, many knowledgeable observers advocated reform. In response, the Qing government adopted proposed measures during the “Xinzheng Reform” and the “Preparation for Constitution Movement”. These reforms enhanced the modernization of the Chinese county administration.