The Mysterious Prince Gong Mansion in Beijing

"A single Prince Gong Mansion encapsulates half of the Qing Dynasty's history." As a historical and cultural landmark, Prince Gong Mansion was once the residence of three prominent Qing Dynasty figures: Heshen, Yonglin, and Yixin.

This historically significant mansion witnessed the reigns of seven emperors—Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, Guangxu, and Xuantong—spanning the Qing Dynasty's peak to its decline, leaving behind countless legendary stories.

Located at the southwestern corner of Shichahai in Beijing, at the end of Liuyin Street, Prince Gong Mansion boasts a meticulously planned architectural layout with interwoven pavilions and exquisite craftsmanship. It is the largest and best-preserved princely residence from the Qing Dynasty.

The mansion's spatial layout is symmetrical, following the "front hall, rear residence" design. Spanning 60,000 square meters, the buildings are arranged harmoniously. The main axis features seven main halls in sequence, surrounded by multiple courtyards.

The central architectural complex, consisting of the main gate, main hall, rear hall, and east and west side halls, forms the core of Prince Gong Mansion. The main hall, modeled after the imperial palace's Golden Throne Hall, is a grand seven-bay structure with a hip-and-gable roof, serving as the center for ceremonial activities.

Beneath the eaves of the main hall are vibrant dougong brackets and dragon-patterned paintings. At the center of the hall stands a set of golden cloud dragon screens with five claws, along with a throne measuring "eight feet high, eleven feet wide, and nine feet deep," used for grand ceremonial events.

Additionally, the official seals and treasures of Prince Gong and his consort were stored in the main hall of the mansion.

Post by Zhicheng Travel | Nov 1, 2025