Prince Gong Mansion — Attraction in Beijing

During our trip to Beijing, we took the city bus from the hotel where we stayed and came to this Beijing Prince Gong’s Mansion (恭王府), a historic ancient building complex worthy of our visit and keep in our memory. Speaking of Prince Gong’s Mansion, we have to look back at the last dynasty in the long history of ancient China, that is, the Manchurian (Qing) Dynasty (1636 AD - 1912 AD), which also had a period of prosperity, and then declined under the rampant corruption of officials. Prince Gong's Mansion used to be the official mansion of The Prince Gong， after the leaving of He-Shen 和珅, the confidantes of Emperor Qianlong 乾隆 (1735 AD - 1795 AD), after his father the Emperor Yongcheng 雍正 (1722 AD - 1735 AD). Qianlong 乾隆 is one of the three wise and brilliant emperors among all emperors in the earliest decades along Manchurian (Qing 清) dynasty reign, who dare not reigned in throne longer than and overpassed the reign period of his grand father, the former emperor Kang Xi (康熙/ 1661 AD - 1722 AD), as an act of respect in that ancient society of the Manchurian dynasty. According to relevant historical documents, He-Shen (和珅), was a minister of Emperor Qianlong (乾隆) in the Manchurian (Qing 清) Dynasty who was comparable to a prime minister that trusted by the Emperor QianLong (乾隆), had great influence on Emperor Qianlong's (乾隆) ruling decisions during his tenure. He was popular with his subordinates and local officials at that time. Admired flattery and flattery, enjoyed all the bribes and offerings they provided, corrupted to the extreme, and rich in all directions of nation. It wasn't until the Chinese Nationalist Government came under the rule of the Communist government that it completely overthrew the dynastic system and took the line of democracy and communism. After taking over Prince Gong's Mansion into nationalized control, it was discovered and confiscated some of He-Shen's (和珅) and Prince Gong's （恭亲王）legacy of jewelry and antiques. There are many traces of loss of belongings, jewelry and antiques, during the absence periode of communist republic government immediate control. At present, in Prince Gong's Mansion, we can no longer see many of the furnishings of those belongings, jewelry, and antiques. We can only see some ancient buildings with traces of scars and unsightly decorations. Under this condition, it can still show the grandeur like a magnificent palace at that time, which shows the special status and great influence of He-Shen (和珅) at that time. There are also distinctions between the main hall and the side halls in the mansion, and the distinction between the vestibule and the rear hall, which once again reflect the noble status of He-Shen (和珅). The building complex is very wide and great, visiting it can be an eye-opener, increase Chinese history knowledge, and benefit us a lot. Entering the exhibition hall, you can see miniatures of the architectural complex, ancient paintings and poems, etc. If you want to appreciate it slowly and in detail, you may not be able to finish your visit within half a day. ...

Beautiful well-kept mansion that was once built by the infamous corrupt politician Heshen before being repurposed as the property for imperial princes (historical enthusiast will know all the details) and it’s lucky that so many details remain or have been preserved to show the state of their past glory.

A quick walk from the nearby train station, I came on a Saturday in late April so it was extremely crowded. There’s a small museum right after the entrance telling the story of the mansion and notable artefacts of its past inhabits, but a very crowded browse.

Not much open inside (other than gift shops), mostly just admiring the structure from the outside. There is a wish-making wall where for around 25 yuan you can buy a tablet and write your own wish too, that comes along with a little gold good luck charm.

Garden was beautiful, though hard to feel the tranquility among all the crowds.

This place is close to other key attractions, just an hour is enough to see everything here. I purchased a ticket in advance but looked like tickets could be bought onsite too. Highly recommend if you want to tick off seeing the many key...

Prince Gong Mansion is one of the most remarkable historic residences in Beijing, with a colorful past that reflects both grandeur and scandal. Originally built during the Qing Dynasty, it first belonged to Heshen, the infamous and notoriously corrupt minister who served under Emperor Qianlong. After Heshen’s downfall and confiscation of his vast wealth, the estate was granted to Prince Gong (Prince Kong), giving the mansion its present name.

The complex is vast, featuring elegant courtyards, exquisite halls, and beautifully landscaped gardens. Walking through the residence, you can sense the extravagant lifestyle of its original owner—lavish details and grand architecture designed to impress. The garden is especially notable, with rockeries, pavilions, and quiet corners that contrast with the bustle of modern Beijing...