Beijing Red Mansion Culture and Art Museum

Beijing Red Mansion Culture and Art Museum

The Beijing Red Mansion Culture and Art Museum is a tourist destination with the appearance of a classical garden, the essence of Red Mansion culture, and the functions of a museum. It is also the fruit of collective wisdom from experts in various fields such as Redology, ancient architecture, landscape gardening, Qing Dynasty history, folklore, and cultural relics. From the overall layout to the landscape planning, from the architectural scale to the arrangement of scenic elements, it is all based on faithful representation of the descriptions in the original work and the style of the era. With nearly 10,000 square meters of buildings, approximately 20,000 square meters of water surfaces, and over 40 scenic spots, it has recreated a site of the Red Mansion.

As is well known, *Dream of the Red Chamber* represents the pinnacle of realism in Chinese classical novels. As a museum themed around Grand View Garden and the Red Mansion, it places great emphasis on capturing the essence and depth of Red Mansion culture. The first section, “The Imperial Concubine’s Family Visit Hall,” displays mahogany thrones, screens, and costumes of characters from the novel used during the “family visit” event, along with the “Imperial Concubine’s Enfeoffment” and “List of Court Ladies” representing the full splendor of Manchu-Han culture. The second section, “Exhibition of Fine Red Mansion Cultural Relics,” showcases furniture, antiques, and utensils from the era in which *Dream of the Red Chamber* is set, including a pair of vermilion sandalwood couplets inlaid with silver that are artifacts of the Cao family. The third section, “Red Mansion Art Gallery,” presents various films, TV dramas, and plays based on the novel over the past century. The fourth section, “Grand View Garden Hall,” illustrates the development of the Grand View Garden over the past decade, featuring a sand table model integrating sound, light, and electricity to demonstrate the transformation of the garden from dream to reality. The fifth section, “The Cao Xueqin Family Background and Life,” showcases the tumultuous life of this great literary figure. The sixth section, “Research on Redology,” introduces the major schools of thought in the field of Redology.

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The construction of the Grand View Garden began in January 1984, with partial opening in October 1986 and full public opening in early 1989. Covering an area of 13 hectares, the garden has nearly 10,000 square meters of floor space and features Qing-style architecture in an elegant and beautiful setting. It includes Jia Baoyu’s Happy Red Court, Lin Daiyu’s Bamboo Lodge, and Xue Baochai’s Alpinia Park… some are magnificent and resplendent, while others are serene and refined.

While serving its role as a garden, the Grand View Garden has for many years been committed to enhancing its cultural sophistication, striving to become a true “Redology Grand View Garden” that embodies profound cultural meaning. Currently, the garden has a total of 12 exhibition rooms, housing nearly 10,000 pieces of cultural relics and replicas, including handicrafts, furniture, bronzes, and pottery. The large permanent exhibition “Exhibition of Red Mansion Culture and Art” consists of six parts: the Imperial Concubine’s Family Visit, fine Red Mansion cultural relics, Red Mansion culture and art, Red Mansion research materials, the life and family background of Cao Xueqin, and the Grand View Garden then and now. Through various artifacts and materials, it provides a systematic and vivid introduction to the extensive and profound world of Redology.

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During holidays, the garden also hosts a variety of colorful activities, among which the famous large-scale period-costume performance “The Imperial Concubine’s Family Visit” is particularly captivating.

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development