Tianjin Jingyuan

　　Jingyuan was originally named Qianyuan and was the residence of Lu Zongyu, the Qing Dynasty envoy to Japan during the Beiyang Government period. From July 1929 to November 1931, the last emperor Puyi, along with his empress Wanrong and concubine Wenxiu, lived here. The name was changed to “Jingyuan,” meaning “a place of tranquility to cultivate one’s noble spirit.” The estate features an eclectic-style brick-and-wood building that blends Spanish and Japanese architectural elements, surrounded by lush greenery in a serene and pleasant setting, making it a typical example of private courtyard residences in Tianjin’s concession era.

　　A single residence preserves the details of several generations of owners, including high-ranking officials of the Beiyang Government, the last emperor and empress of the late Qing Dynasty, the commander of the Nationalist Party’s Tianjin garrison, renowned contemporary writers and artists, as well as many ordinary people who left no names behind.

　　Stepping into Jingyuan feels like stepping through time. The hustle and bustle of the city center is blocked out by the tall courtyard walls, leaving only the lingering chirping of birds as a meaningful backdrop. It's an ideal place for history and architecture enthusiasts to explore at a leisurely pace.

　　Lu Zongyu’s residence is located at No. 70 Anshan Road (formerly known as Miyajima Street in the Japanese Concession). Built in 1921, it covers an area of 3,360 square meters. Originally called “Qianyuan,” in February 1925, Puyi was expelled from the Forbidden City and fled to Tianjin. He initially stayed at “Zhangyuan” before moving to “Qianyuan” in July 1929. In his bid to restore the imperial system and await the right moment, he renamed “Qianyuan” to “Jingyuan.”

　　“Jingyuan” is a group of hybrid East-West style residential courtyards. It is enclosed by high walls and a gatehouse reaching up to 6.5 meters. Upon entering, you will see three sets of courtyards arranged in a “three circles within a moon” pattern — the front yard, back yard, and west wing yard. The front yard faces the main building, a two-story brick-and-wood structure with a partial third floor, featuring a prominent central pavilion. From the ground-floor foyer and corridors to the balconies on the second and third floors and the pavilion, the structure recedes inward floor by floor, giving the façade a tall, stable, and majestic appearance. The main façade is asymmetrical. The western section has an open corridor with exposed wooden pillars; the eastern section is enclosed, with large main rooms accentuated by balconies extending beyond the front eaves and large windows that enhance the building’s visual impact. The first floor includes a pantry, bar, dining hall, meeting room, and reception room; the second floor contains living rooms, study rooms, bedrooms, and more. The interiors are exquisitely decorated with features such as wainscoting, built-in cabinets, antique shelves, and bookshelves. Below are semi-basements and a boiler room. The front yard is a garden with poplar, locust, lilac trees, vine trellises, grape arbors, and a goldfish pond. The paths are paved with cobblestones, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Near the eastern wall are a guard room, kitchen, and garage. The back yard is separated from the front yard by a short corridor and contains a two-story brick-and-wood inner-corridor building with a total of 16 rooms. At the west end of the main building, an 17-meter-long, 1.5-meter-wide corridor extends outward, forming the west wing yard. The corridor walls feature symmetrical continuous semi-circular arches, allowing views between the front yard and the west wing yard. Inside the west wing yard, there is a dragon-shaped stone fountain and large flower stands. At the other end of the corridor is a typical Japanese-style flower hall, with an artificial hill in front. All walls, including the outer walls, are finished with exposed concrete blocks. The wall surfaces are made of cement mortar applied over rough stone. The balcony railings are adorned with fish-scale patterns made of small blue tiles or decorative carvings on large square bricks, reflecting distinctive Chinese architectural features.

　　Suggested Visiting Time

　　40 minutes to 1 hour

　　Ticket

　　1. Ticket price: 20 RMB

　　2. Free admission all year round for:

　　Children under 1.2 meters in height;

　　Seniors aged 70 and above with a valid senior citizen card or ID;

　　Active-duty military personnel (including armed police) with valid military ID or officer ID.

　　3. Discounted tickets all year round for:

　　Seniors aged 60 and above with a valid senior citizen card or ID (50% off);

　　Primary and secondary school students with a valid student ID (50% off).

　　Opening Hours

　　Tuesday to Sunday: 8:30–17:00 (last entry at 16:30), closed on Mondays (except public holidays)

　　Address: No. 70 Anshan Road, Heping District

　　Phone: 27311618

　　Puyi, Aisin-Gioro (1906–1967)　　Puyi (February 7, 1906 – October 17, 1967), also known as Aisin-Gioro Puyi, courtesy name Yaoshi, art name Haoran, was the last emperor of China and the final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. The son of Prince Chun Yixu, Puyi ascended the throne in 1908 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu. He abdicated in 1912 following the Xinhai Revolution, marking the end of Qing rule. After the Mukden Incident in 1931, he became the puppet emperor of Manchukuo under the title “Kangde Emperor.” Following Japan’s defeat in World War II, Puyi was repatriated to China, where he underwent re-education and reform at the Fushun War Criminals Management Centre. In 1959, he was granted special amnesty by Mao Zedong and became a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Puyi passed away in 1967 due to uremia, and his ashes were interred at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing...  More+

　　Lu Zongyu (1876–1941)　　Lu Zongyu (1876–1941), courtesy name Runsheng, was a native of Haining, Zhejiang. He was born on May 14, 1876 (the second year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty). In 1898 (the 24th year of Guangxu), he went to Waseda University in Japan to study politics and economics. After returning to China in 1902 (the 28th year of Guangxu), he served as an instructor at the Advanced Scholars' Hall and Police School, and as an official in the Patrol Police Department. On June 1, 1905 (the 31st year of Guangxu), he took part in the first examination for overseas students held by the Education Affairs Office and earned the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations). In the winter of 1906, he joined the five ministers—including Zaize, Dai Hongci, and Xu Shichang—on their overseas inspection tour. As a second-class attaché, Lu gained considerable recognition from Xu Shichang. In 1907 (the...  More+

Tianjin Jingyuan isAAAGrade A scenic spot