Garden of Prince Gong’s Mansion

　　Destination Introduction
　　The Prince Gong’s Mansion, situated on the north bank of Shichahai, is the world’s largest siheyuan and the most intact of the more than 60 Qing dynasty princely residences still existing in Beijing. It is divided into three parallel sections: east, middle, and west. The three buildings in the central section form the main structure of the residence: the main hall, the rear hall, and the extended wing. The extended wing stretches 160 meters from east to west and contains over 40 rooms. The east and west sections each have three courtyards that correspond to the central section. The final part of the mansion is the garden, which features over 20 uniquely designed scenic areas.

　　　　The Prince Gong’s Mansion was originally the residence of Prince Gong Yixin, the sixth son of Emperor Daoguang of the Qing dynasty. It was formerly the home of Heshen, a powerful minister during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. In the fourth year of the Jiaqing era (1799), Heshen was found guilty of crimes, and his residence was confiscated by the imperial court. Emperor Jiaqing granted part of it to his younger brother, Prince Qing Yuling, thus forming the Prince Qing Mansion. Later, Emperor Xianfeng reclaimed the Prince Qing Mansion and bestowed it upon his younger brother, Prince Gong Yixin, giving rise to the Prince Gong’s Mansion. During the Xianfeng and Tongzhi eras, the mansion underwent renovations, and a garden was added at the back.

　　　　Because certain features of the Prince Gong’s Mansion resemble those described in the classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber, some believe that the mansion’s garden served as the blueprint for the Grand View Garden. However, many others hold differing opinions.

　　　　The owner of the mansion, Yixun, was a first-rank noble, so his residence was not only spacious but also built to the highest architectural standards, reflecting an unrivaled hierarchical status. Clear indicators of this status include the number of gateways and rooms. A prince’s residence must have a five-bay-wide gateway, a seven-bay main hall, a five-bay rear hall, a seven-bay sleeping quarters, and side halls. Residences of nobles below the rank of prince must not exceed these numbers. The style of the buildings and the color of the roof tiles also could not be exceeded.

　　　　The previous owner of the Prince Gong’s Mansion was the powerful minister Heshen. He built the Qingyi Hall, which imitated the Ningshou Palace of the emperor. This act was listed among the charges when the emperor “graciously granted him the mercy of taking his own life.”

　　　　The architecture of the Prince Gong’s Mansion can be divided into two parts: the residence and the garden. The residence covers an area of 46.5 mu (about 3.1 hectares) and is divided into three sections—east, middle, and west—each consisting of multiple courtyards. Behind it lies a 160-meter-long, two-story rear building with a continuous roof ridge. The garden, located behind the building, covers 38.6 mu and is also roughly divided into three sections—east, middle, and west. The garden is scattered with rockeries, winding corridors, pavilions, ponds, and flower arrangements.

　　　　The middle section of the residence features a three-bay-wide front gate and a five-bay-wide second gate. Inside the gate, there was originally the main hall known as the Yin’an Hall, which has been destroyed. The current rear hall is called the Jiale Hall. The east section consists of three courtyards and served as the living quarters for Prince Gong Yixin. The west section’s main hall is the Xijin Hall, a grand courtyard surrounded by corridors, exuding remarkable magnificence. Behind the three courtyard sections lies a two-story building with over 40 rooms spanning 160 meters from east to west. The eastern building is called the Zhanwu Tower, and the western one is the Baoyue Tower. Behind these towers is the garden—Pingjin Garden, commonly known as the Garden of Prince Gong’s Mansion—covering an area of 28,000 square meters. The garden’s structures are also roughly divided into three sections—east, middle, and west—with an implied axis. Scattered throughout are rockeries, winding corridors, pavilions, ponds, and floral displays. Major structures include the Xiedian Hall, Yaoyue Platform, Grand Theater Stage, and Qinqui Pavilion.

　　　　Address: No. 17 Qianhai West Street, Phone: 66168149
　　Location: Located on Qianhai West Street, Xicheng District

　　　　Area: Total area exceeds 100 mu  Transportation Information
　　Transportation: Take bus routes 13, 107, 111, or 118 and get off at the Back Gate of Beihai.  Price Information       Ticket: 60 RMB (includes admission ticket, professional guide, visit to open scenic spots and exhibition halls, viewing the mansion’s theater, and enjoying traditional Beijing performances, as well as sampling mansion-style covered bowl tea and snacks). If you are only visiting the Prince Gong’s Mansion, the ticket is 20 RMB.

　　 Beijing Xicheng District

The Garden of Prince Gong’s Mansion is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.