1. Prince Gong’s Mansion
Prince Gong’s Mansion is located in Beihai Back Street, Xicheng District. It is the best-preserved palace in Beijing. "The Crescent River surrounds the house like a dragon and a pan, and the Western Mountain looks like a tiger crouching in the distance." This is the description of Prince Gong's Mansion in history books. In terms of its location, it occupies an excellent location in the capital. The ancients paid great attention to Feng Shui when building houses and gardens. It is said that there are two dragon veins in Beijing. One is the earth dragon, which is the dragon vein of the Forbidden City; the other is the water dragon, which refers to the line between Houhai and Beihai. Prince Gong’s Mansion happens to be between Houhai and The connection between the North Sea and the North Sea is on the Dragon Vein, so Feng Shui is very good. It is said that the place with the most long-lived elderly people in Beijing is near Prince Gong’s Mansion. This place is a geomantic treasure. "A Prince Gong's Mansion is half the history of the Qing Dynasty" is the evaluation of Prince Gong's Mansion by the historical geographer Hou Renzhi.
Ticket: 40 yuan
Address: No. 17, Qianhai West Street, Shichahai, Xicheng District, Beijing (near Dingfu Street)
Bus route: Take the subway Take Line 6 to Beihai North Station and get off and walk there; or take bus No. 3, No. 13 and other buses and get off at "Beihai North Gate" station.
2. Prince Chun’s Mansion
Prince Chun’s Mansion (North Mansion) is located on the north bank of Houhai. The mansion is divided into four parts: the main courtyard, the hospital, the garden and the horse pen. During the Kangxi period, Mingzhu's mansion garden was located here. Later, Mingzhu was convicted, and the garden was occupied by the prince. After Jiaqing came to the throne, the garden and the nearby mansion were given to the prince.
During the Guangxu period, this mansion was given to Guangxu’s biological father, Prince Chun, and was built into Prince Chun’s Mansion. The former residence of Mr. Soong Ching Ling, the honorary president of the country, was built in the West Garden of Prince Chun's Mansion. She worked and lived here for 18 years. After renovation, the courtyard will become the office of the State Administration of Religious Affairs.
Tickets: Free
Address: No. 44, Houhai Beiyan, Xicheng District, Beijing
Bus route: Take Beijing Bus No. 635 No. 815 to Denegan Get off at Shuiqiao and walk along Ganlu Temple Alley to the northern edge of Houhai Lake.
3. Keqin County Prince's Mansion
Keqin County Prince's Mansion is located on the north side of Xikou Road, Xinwenhua Street (formerly Shihuma Street), Xicheng District. Prince Keqin was the eldest son of Prince Li Daishan. Prince Keqin was posthumously named one of the "Eight Iron Hat Kings" in the early Qing Dynasty. This mansion was built during the Shunzhi period. After the Republic of China, it was sold to Xiong Xiling as a residence. The Keqin County Prince's Palace completed major renovations in early November last year, basically maintaining the originality of the Qing Dynasty palace architecture. Keqin County Prince's Mansion is now Beijing's No. 2 Experimental Primary School.
Tickets: Not open to the public
Address: No. 53, Xinwenhua Street, Xicheng District
Bus route: Take No. 10, 38 or 395 to Xinhua Get off at the west entrance of Wenhua Street and walk 441 meters.
4. Prince He's Mansion
Prince He's Mansion is located on Zhangzizhong Road and was later converted into a Western-style building by Li Hongzhang. The first king, Aixinjueluo Hongzhou, was the fifth son of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. He was granted the title of Prince He in the eleventh year of Yongzheng's reign (1733). Later, he had an affair with Prince Bao (Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty). After Qianlong ascended the throne, he participated in political affairs. Hong Zhou was arrogant and extravagant, so Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty gave Hong Zhou all the old things from Prince Yong's palace, making him as rich as any other king.
By the end of the Qing Dynasty, there were seven generations and eight masters. "The Capital Fangxiang Zhi Manuscript" calls this mansion Lian Gong's Mansion because the owner at that time was Pu Lian, the Duke of Zhenguo. In the late Qing Dynasty, a noble school was rebuilt here. During the Republic of China, it merged with Prince Lao Gong's Mansion and became the yamen of the military and political leaders. In 1926, the "March 18th" tragedy occurred here. Before the "July 7th" incident, it was the military headquarters of Song Zheyuan's 29th Army stationed in Peiping. In 1937, it became the headquarters of Japan's North China Garrison under Neiji Okamura.
Tickets: Free
Address: No. 3, Zhangzizhong Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Busting route: Take the northwest exit of Zhangzizhong Road Station of Metro Line 5.
5. Princess Hejing Mansion
Princess Hejing Mansion was a title given to Princess Gu Lun and Princess Jing after the marriage of the third daughter of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Princess Hejing (1731-1792) was born to Empress Xiaoxian Chun. In the twelfth year of Qianlong's reign, she married Sebutengbalzhuer, the auxiliary prince of the Horqin tribe in Mongolia.
The original palace was built as a royal palace, with ancillary buildings such as a main entrance, a main hall, a back bedroom, a back building, and east and west side rooms.
The descendants of the princess were once named Beizi, so they were also called Dabeizi Mansion. After the Republic of China, it became the seat of the Army Department of the Beiyang Warlord Government. The main halls on the middle road are well preserved and are important protected cultural relics in Beijing.
Tickets: Free
Address: No. 7, Zhangzizhong Road, Dongcheng District (formerly Tieshizi Hutong).
Bus route: Take bus 13, 42, 113, 115, 118, 701, or 823 to Zhangzizhong Road Station.