Prince Chun’s Mansion

Prince Chun’s Mansion

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

Destination Introduction

Prince Chun’s Mansion is located along the northern shore of Houhai in Xicheng District. It was bestowed upon Yixuan, the seventh son of Emperor Daoguang and father of Emperor Guangxu, as his new princely residence in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888). Since the original Prince Chun’s Mansion (the Southern Mansion, now located at Dongli, Taipinghu, Xicheng District) was the birthplace of Emperor Guangxu, it was elevated to palace status according to Qing dynasty regulations. Hence, this new residence was granted and also came to be known as the Northern Mansion.

The mansion faces south and features an expansive layout that 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 main mansion building. It is a Cultural Relics Protection Unit in Xicheng District.

The eastern part is divided into three routes—east, central, and west. The central route constitutes 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 serves as the formal entrance to the mansion, spanning five bays. Beyond this lies the main hall, the Yinan Hall, also five bays wide, flanked by five-bay wing rooms on the east and west. Behind the main hall is a self-contained courtyard complex, accessed via a three-bay hallway. The facade includes a five-bay principal room with adjacent side rooms, which, according to regulations, would belong to the rear sleeping quarters. At the very back is the rear enclosing building, nine bays wide, used for ceremonies during various celebrations. The rear sleeping quarters later became a shrine dedicated to deities, Buddha, and distant ancestors. The eastern route mainly consists of family shrines, Buddhist halls, and auxiliary buildings. 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 buildings include the Baohan Hall, or Grand Study. Behind it lies a courtyard where the main hall is called Jiusi Hall, the residence of senior maidservants, followed by Siqian Hall, the living quarters of the princess consort. There is also the Renzhen Hall, a small study for the princes’ education, and other auxiliary structures. The Southern Mansion is located at Dongli, Taipinghu, Xicheng District, and was originally the residence of the Prince Rong. The mansion also 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 interior east and west gates leading to the respective courtyards. A newly built auditorium exists along the central route, and a two-courtyard siheyuan (quadrangle) remains preserved. The eastern courtyard is relatively well-preserved, while most of the ancient buildings 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 princely mansion in Beijing.

Location: Northern shore of Houhai, 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, Northern Shore of Houhai, Xicheng District, Beijing (Western Section of the Northern Shore of Houhai)

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units