Abstract: Peasant associations arose in the late Qing dynasty in the context o f a deepening national crisis and the decline of Chinese agriculture. Industrialists and capitalist reformers advocated the formation of peasant association and Xinzheng Reforms directly promoted their establishment Established in July 1907, the Agricultural Association of Zhili played a leading role in the rise of peasant associations around the country Peasant associations had self- contained organization and developed extensive agricultural activities. The membership of peasant associations was complex and their institutional organization was marked by modern democratic characteristics The activities of these associations were civil but government officials supervised them Affiliated with the government peasant associations in the late Qing dynasty were modern social organizations that sought to reform agriculture.