Garden of Prince Gong's Mansion

Index | History | Architecture | Garden

The garden in Prince Gong's Mansion is named Cuijin, meaning " concentrated cream of the most beautiful flowers". The garden covers 28,000 square meters and is studded with artificial hills, trees, flowers, pavilions, terraces and traditional buildings. From the arched stone gate in typical Western architectural style, people can see a 5-meter-high artificial Peak, which is a rock procured from Taihu Lake in southern China.

The rear section of the garden has a multi-leveled artificial hill built of Lake Tai stones. The bottom level has tunnels running through it and contains a stone with the character "fu" (meaning happiness in Chinese) written on it in the calligraphy of Qing Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722). On the second level are two pools where fine lotuses bloom in late summer and early autumn. A small pavilion with a terrace stands on the hilltop and is considered an ideal place for viewing the moon. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is an ideal place for enjoying the entrancing full moon. A fishing pond stands in front of the hill. The eastern courtyard of the garden is surrounded by a low wall and contains a luxuriance of flowers and trees. Behind the rockery is the Fu Hall, where the calligraphic works and paintings of the Aisingero family of Manchu aristocrats are housed and exhibited. Behind the hill are masterpieces of garden architecture.

Another lofty building contributing to the fame of the mansion is the theatre. This spacious theatre with subtle lighting, and painted walls of wisteria and greenery, gives the audience the feeling of sitting beneath trellises. The floor is paved in pseudo-gold brick, and the seats consist of old-fashioned wooden armchairs furnished with square tables. Here, people can enjoy Kunqu Opera, Peking Opera and imperial music.

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