Courtyard No. 13 and No. 15, Fangjia Hutong

Courtyard No. 13 and No. 15, Fangjia Hutong

Courtyard No. 13 and No. 15, Fangjia Hutong, is a protected cultural heritage site of Beijing and a classic red tourism attraction.

Courtyard No. 13 and No. 15, Fangjia Hutong, are located on Fangjia Hutong inside Andingmen. Xun Junwang Yongzhang was the third son of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. He passed away before reaching adulthood and was posthumously granted the title of Xun Junwang (Prince of Xun) in the 25th year of Qianlong’s reign (1760). The prince’s mansion faced south and originally covered a construction area of 1,210 square meters. Most of its main structures have been demolished, with only the screen wall facing the entrance gate, the main room of the rear sleeping quarters, and the side rooms still remaining. The east and west wing courtyards no longer exist. The original east wing courtyard was relatively large, serving as a garden and residential area. It featured ancient trees and rockeries. To the east, there was a complete courtyard home with a spacious yard and neatly arranged buildings, though it no longer retained the characteristics of a royal mansion. During the Republican era, the owner divided and sold the property to the collaborator Wang Yitang, who then rebuilt it and established a new household. After renovation, the main courtyard was divided into two compounds — Yi Garden and De Garden — while the west courtyard became Jing Garden and Qin Garden. The courtyards and gardens were surrounded by corridors adorned with carved patterns and painted designs. Magnolia and crabapple trees flourished, while Taihu rocks were stacked artistically, covering an area of 3,000 square meters with a construction area of 2,000 square meters. The western part now serves as the activity center for veteran cadres of Dongcheng District. The main western courtyard is a typical example of a Qing Dynasty prince’s residence, while the eastern part is used as housing for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Municipal-Level Protected Cultural Heritage Sites in Beijing