Prince Chun’s Mansion

Prince Chun’s (Yi Xin’s) Mansion

Prince Chun’s Mansion is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Destination Introduction

Prince Chun’s Mansion is situated on the north bank of Houhai in Xicheng District. It was bestowed in the 14th year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign (1888) as a new residence to Yixun (father of Emperor Guangxu), the seventh son of Emperor Daoguang and Prince Chun. Since the original Prince Chun’s Mansion (the Southern Mansion, now located at Dongli, Taipinghu, Xicheng District) was the birthplace of Guangxu, it was, according to Qing regulations, elevated to palace status, hence the bestowment of this new residence, also known as the Northern Mansion.

The mansion faces south and has a vast layout, which can be divided into two main parts: the western section is the mansion garden (now the former residence of Soong Ching-ling), and the eastern section is the mansion proper. It is a Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Xicheng District.

The eastern part is divided into eastern, central, and western routes. The central route is the main architectural complex. From south to north, there is a five-bay street gate. Upon entering the outer courtyard, there is a second gate, which is the actual main gate of the mansion, with a width of five bays. Beyond that lies the main hall, the Yin’an Hall, also five bays wide, flanked by five-bay matching side buildings on the east and west. Behind the main hall is a self-contained courtyard complex. Entering through a three-bay passageway, one faces a five-bay main room and its auxiliary rooms, which, according to regulations, would be considered the rear sleeping quarters. At the very back is the rear enclosing building, nine bays wide, where various celebratory ceremonies were held. The rear sleeping area was used as a shrine for deities, Buddhas, and distant ancestors. The eastern route mainly consists of ancestral halls, Buddhist prayer rooms, and some auxiliary structures. The courtyard outside the eastern wall served as the mansion’s stable area. The western route contains two parallel courtyard complexes, which were the activity centers of the Prince Chun Mansion. The main building is the Baohan Hall, or the Grand Study. Behind it lies a courtyard where the main hall is called the Jiusi Hall, the residence of the imperial governess, followed by the Siqian Hall, the residence of the princess consort. There is also the Renzhen Hall, a small study for the princes’ education, along with other auxiliary buildings. The Southern Mansion is located at Dongli, Taipinghu, Xicheng District, and was originally the residence of the Prince Rong. The mansion faces south and is divided into central, eastern, western routes, and a garden. Currently, the central route has a three-bay mansion gate, flanked by bat-wing shaped screen walls, with inner east and west gates leading to the respective courtyards. A newly built auditorium stands in the central route, while a two-courtyard quadrangle remains preserved. The eastern courtyard is relatively well-preserved, while most of the ancient structures in the western courtyard have been demolished.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, extensive renovations were carried out on Prince Chun’s Mansion, making it the best-preserved mansion in Beijing.

Location: Located on the north bank of Houhai in Xicheng District

Area: 8,848 square meters

Transportation Information

Transportation: Take bus No. 5 or 819 to Guozishi, then walk south along Houhai Alley.

Scenic Spot Location

No. 44, North Bank of Houhai, Xicheng District, Beijing (western section of the north bank of Houhai)

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units