Painted courtyards
Red and gold.
OnMyWayTo — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Hermann Luyken — CC0 · Hermann Luyken — CC0 · Hermann Luyken — CC0 · onion83 — CC BY-SA 2.0 · onion83 — CC BY-SA 2.0 · china_puwa / Alex Yang — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bridget Coila from New Orleans, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0
A Qing mansion and garden just north of the Shichahai lakes, built in 1777 for Heshen, one of the most powerful officials of the Qianlong Emperor; after his downfall in 1799 it passed to a prince, and in 1851 to Prince Gong, the emperor's brother, who gave it its name. It covers about six hectares in two parts: the residence in front, a series of courtyards with halls painted in red, green and gold, separated from the garden by a long two-storey rear building of some 160 m. The garden behind has rockeries and ponds, a stone tablet carved with the character «fu», blessing, and a large theatre hall built for Chinese opera. Tickets are CNY 40 from April to October and CNY 30 in winter, and it is open from 8.30 am to 5 pm (4.30 pm in winter), closed on Mondays except public holidays; booking online at least a day ahead is advised, per visitor guides. It pairs well with a walk around Shichahai and its old lanes.
Red and gold.
Rockeries and ponds.
Built for opera.
Qianhai West Street, just north of Shichahai, Xicheng District
Shichahai and the HutongsA lovely historic area in north-central Beijing made up of three linked lakes, Q8 minutes walk
Drum and Bell Towers of BeijingTwo towers at the northern end of old Beijing's central axis that kept the city'11 minutes walk
Beihai ParkA former imperial garden north-west of the Forbidden City, first built in the tw17 minutes walk4.6
NanluoguxiangA narrow historic lane in north-central Beijing about 800 m long, running from G18 minutes walk
Jingshan ParkAn imperial park of 23 hectares directly north of the Forbidden City, once a pri21 minutes walk4.5Booking online one to seven days ahead is advised, especially at weekends and holidays, and it is closed on Mondays, per visitor guides.