China Beijing Prince Gong’s Mansion

Province/Area:Beijing
Address:No. 17 Qianhai West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing
Distance from the city center:4.0km
Open time(Beijing time):08:30-17:00
Ticket price:40 CNY
Phone:86-010-83288149

Introduction

The Prince Gong Mansion is located on Qianhai West Street in Beijing’s Xicheng District. It was one of the largest royal mansions of the Qing Dynasty and successively served as the residences of the corrupt official Heshen and Prince Qingyonglin. It was later named after the residence of Prince Gong Yixin.The Prince Gong Mansion has witnessed the Qing Dynasty’s historical process from its heyday to its decline and fall, hence the saying “One Prince Gong Mansion, half the history of the Qing Dynasty.”

The Gongwangfu is a very well-preserved royal palace complex in China, with more than 30 different types of buildings in a well-designed layout and extraordinary style.The whole is divided into two parts: the mansion in the front (south) and the garden in the back (north).

The mansion

The mansion covers an area of about 30,000 square meters and is composed of multiple quadrangles that are intersected by a strict axis. It is divided into three roads: central, east and west, with three courtyards in each road.

Middle Road: The main buildings on the Middle Road are the Yin’an Hall and Jiale Hall. The roofs of these halls are covered with green glazed tiles, which show the majesty of the Middle Road and also reflect the status of the prince.

East Road: The main room in the front courtyard of the East Road is Duofu Xuan. Feng Shen Yinde, the son of Heshen, later married the youngest daughter of Emperor Qianlong, Princess Gulun Hexiao, and lived here, making this mansion temporarily the de facto Princess’s Palace.The main room in the rear courtyard is called Le Dao Tang, and it was the living quarters of the Prince Gong Yixin.

West Road: The courtyards on West Road are smaller and more exquisite, with the main buildings being Baoguang Hall and Xijin Hall.The architectural gem is the magnificent Xijin Hall, with its beautifully carved nanmu wood partitions in the hall. It was built by Heshen in imitation of the style of the Ningshou Palace in the Forbidden City.

China Beijing Prince Gong's Mansion

Garden

The garden is located to the north of the mansion and is also known as Suijinyuan. It covers an area of more than 28,000 square meters and has 31 ancient buildings.When the Prince Gong built the garden, he mobilized hundreds of skilled craftsmen. After its completion, its magnificence was the crown of the 100 royal palaces in the capital, and it is the essence of the surviving royal garden art in Beijing.The entire garden is permeated by the theme of the word “fortune,” making the theme clear.The Western-style gate, the imperial calligraphy tablet and the indoor grand theater are known as the “three wonders” of Gongwangfu.

Opening hours

01/01-01/26 Tuesday-Sunday 08:30-17:00 open;02/05-12/31 Tuesday-Sunday 08:30-17:00 open; 01/01-01/26 Monday all day closed; 02/05-12/31 Monday all day closed; New Year’s Day, Tomb Sweeping Day, Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, National Day 08:30-17:00 open; 01/27-01/29 all day closed; 01/30-02/04 08:30-17:00 open

Preferential policies

Children: 6 years old (inclusive) or under, or under 1.2 meters (inclusive) in height, with ID card or household register, free

retired cadres: With a retirement certificate, free of charge

Disabled persons: With a disability card, free

senior citizens: 60 years of age or older (inclusive), with ID card, half price

Military personnel: Active military personnel, half price with valid ID

Students: Full-time undergraduate degree or below (excluding postgraduate, master’s, doctoral and adult education), with ID card and student card; inbound youth tourists from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, foreign countries, etc. with valid proof of identity or student ID, half price

Minors: 6 years old (inclusive) to 18 years old (inclusive), with ID card or household register, half price

Service Facilities

Parking: [Liuying Street Gongwangfu Parking Lot] Reference price: 10/hour; Address: Dajinxi Hutong (near Yinding Bridge), from the south shore of Houhai to Qianhai West Street; Storage spaces: 50

WIFI: Account: GWF; Password: No password required; Coverage: Full coverage

Luggage storage:

Scenic spot explanations:Individual tourists: 200 RMB/tour for up to 5 people, 40 RMB/person for more than 5 people.Location: Gongwangfu Qian Square Tour Service Hall

Audio guide rental:Reference price: 30 yuan/unit, no deposit required; Location: Gongwangfu Qian Square Tour Service Hall; 1. The audio guide provides explanations in Chinese (including Mandarin, Cantonese, and Minnan), English, French, Spanish, and Japanese; there are adult and children’s versions; 2. The explanations cover nearly 50 attractions and provide professional explanations from the perspectives of history, culture, and architecture; 3. After the explanation is finished, pleasebe sure to return the audio guide to the return location at the exit; 4. The audio guide is automatically set, and it will automatically play at each attraction. The volume can be adjusted. Please use it properly. If it is damaged or lost, you will be charged 500 yuan/unit.

Stroller rental: Reference price: charge; Address: Visitor Center

Wheelchair rental: Address: Visitor Center

Restrooms:Ticket office and inside

souvenir shops:The cultural and creative stores are located in the Qiu Shui Shan Fang in the Gong Wang Fu Garden, Cheng Huai Xie Xiu, and on the west side of Gate 2 of Gong Wang Fu.