Beijing Prince Gong’s Mansion Travel Guide: Exploring a Qing Dynasty Prince’s Residence with Practical Booking Tips

When visiting Beijing, beyond the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, there’s one place you shouldn’t miss—Prince Gong’s Mansion. It’s not just a beautiful garden but a “walk-in history book of the Qing Dynasty.”游览北京时，除了故宫和长城，还有一个地方不容错过——恭王府。它不仅是一个美丽的园林，更是一部“活生生的清朝历史书”。

Originally the opulent residence of Emperor Qianlong’s favored minister Heshen, it later became the home of Prince Gong Yixin, hence its name. Today, nestled beside bustling Shichahai, its expansive grounds and exquisite architecture make it Beijing’s best-preserved princely mansion.这座宫殿最初是乾隆皇帝宠臣和珆的府邸，后来成为恭宜信王的住所，因此得名。如今，它坐落在繁华的什刹海旁，其广阔的庭院和精美的建筑使其成为北京保存最完好的王府之一。

Step 1: Ticket Reservation Guide (Critical!)第一步：订票指南（至关重要！）

Visiting the Prince Gong’s Mansion requires advance online reservation with real-name registration. No same-day tickets are sold on-site. This is the first step in planning your itinerary.

Reservation Methods:

1. Official Channel: Search for and follow the “Gong Wang Fu Museum” WeChat official account. Navigate to the menu bar, select “Tour · Gong Wang Fu” → “Online Ticket Purchase” to make your reservation.

2. Reservation Period: Reservations typically open 7 days in advance. As the Prince Gong’s Mansion is a popular attraction, especially during holidays and peak tourist seasons, tickets are highly limited. We strongly recommend arranging and booking your visit well in advance.

3.  Admission Documentation: After successfully booking, be sure to bring the original, valid ID used during ticket purchase. Present this ID for entry during your reserved time slot. Foreign visitors: Please use your passport.3. 入场证件：成功预订后，请务必携带购票时使用的有效身份证件原件。请在预订时段内出示此证件入场。外国游客：请使用护照。

Once booked, you can easily navigate to the site using the following information.

How to Easily Reach the Prince Gong’s Mansion?如何轻松抵达恭王府？

Getting to the Prince Gong’s Mansion is very convenient. The most recommended way is to take Subway Line 6, get off at “Beihai North Station, ”and exit via Exit B. After that, simply follow the roadside signs and walk about 500 meters (5-7 minutes) to reach the entrance of the Prince Gong’s Mansion. The surrounding hutongs also exude the charm of old Beijing, making the walk itself a pleasant experience.

What are the must-see attractions inside the Prince Gong’s Mansion?恭王府内有哪些必看景点？

The mansion is quite large, primarily divided into the residence and the garden. During your visit, don’t miss these story-filled “star attractions” :

1. Xijin Studio: Heshen’s Lavish Bedchamber

This was the bedroom of Heshen, the mansion’s former owner. Its uniqueness lies in its architectural design, which mimics the residence of Emperor Qianlong within the Forbidden City—a grave breach of protocol at the time. The pillars are crafted from exceptionally rare golden thread nanmu wood, emitting a distinctive fragrance. The furniture features exquisite inlays of polished seashells (a technique called“ shell inlay”), showcasing astonishing opulence.这里曾是府邸主人和珏的卧室。它的独特之处在于其建筑设计，仿照乾隆皇帝在紫禁城内的寝宫——这在当时是严重违反礼仪的。柱子由极其珍贵的金丝楠木制成，散发着独特的香气。家具上镶嵌着精美的抛光贝壳（一种名为“贝壳镶嵌”的工艺），尽显奢华气派。

2. Rear Covered Building: The“Code Wall” of Treasures2. 后方有顶建筑：宝藏的“密码墙”

One of the most peculiar structures in the Prince Gong’s Mansion, this two-story building stretches over 180 meters. Its rear wall features more than 40 windows of varying shapes. Legend has it that Heshen designed these distinct windows like the codes of a safe; with just a glance at a window’s shape, he could identify whether a room held gold, pearls, or other treasures.恭王府中最奇特的建筑之一，是这座两层楼房，绵延超过 180 米。其后墙上镶嵌着四十余扇形状各异的窗户。相传和珏将这些独特的窗户设计得如同保险箱的密码；只需一眼，他就能辨别房间里藏有的是黄金、珍珠还是其他珍宝。

 3. Western-Style Gate: China’s Sole Surviving Qing Dynasty Relic

This elegant white marble archway, blending Chinese and Western architectural artistry, originally stood in the Old Summer Palace before its destruction. Today, it remains the only fully preserved Qing Dynasty Western-style gate in China, making it exceptionally valuable.这座典雅的白色大理石拱门，融合了中西建筑艺术风格，原先矗立于圆明园旧址，后被毁。如今，它是中国唯一保存完整的清代西式城门，因此极具收藏价值。

4. “Fu” Character Stele: Emperor Kangxi’s “Supreme Blessing”4.“福”字碑：康熙皇帝的“至高祝福.”

This stele is the “treasure of the mansion. ”The character ‘福’ (blessing) inscribed on it was personally written by Emperor Kangxi, embodying the auspicious meanings of ‘many children, great talent, abundant fields, long life, and abundant blessings.” It is thus revered as the “Number One Blessing Under Heaven.” This “福” character is hidden in a secret cavity within the garden’s rockery. When visiting, be sure to seek it out and touch it to bring blessings to yourself and your family.这块石碑是“府邸的珍宝”。碑上镌刻的“福”字是康熙皇帝亲笔书写的，寓意“多子多才、田园丰饶、长寿富贵、福泽绵长”，因此被尊为“天下第一福”。这“福”字隐藏在园林假山的一个隐蔽洞穴中。参观时，请务必找到它并触摸它，为自己和家人祈福。

 5. Grand Opera Pavilion: Ancient “Stereo Sound System.”

This magnificent opera stage in the Prince Gong’s Mansion garden features ingenious architecture: nine large vats buried beneath the stage in a V-shaped formation. When performers sing onstage, their voices resonate and echo within the vats, creating natural amplification and reverberation—equivalent to an ancient surround sound system. The renowned Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang once performed here.恭王府花园中这座宏伟的戏台建筑精妙绝伦：舞台下方呈 V 字形埋设着九个大桶。当演员在台上演唱时，他们的声音会在桶内产生共鸣和回响，形成自然的放大和混响效果——堪比古代的环绕立体声系统。著名京剧大师梅兰芳曾在此演出。

Recommended Tour Routes  推荐旅游路线

Classic Route (Efficient Tour): Enter through the Main Palace Gate, then visit Yinan Hall (Main Hall)→Jiale Hall→Xijin Pavilion→Rear Enclosure Tower. Proceed to the garden to see the Western-style Gate and the “Fu” Character Stele, concluding with the scenery of the square pond and pavilion.经典路线（高效游览）：从正门进入，依次参观宜南殿（正殿）→嘉乐殿→西进阁→后围楼。之后前往园林，欣赏西式大门和“福”字碑，最后游览方池亭台。

In-Depth Route (Slow Exploration): Divide the garden into three paths—East, Central, and West. The Central path centers on finding the “Fu Character Stele”; the East path offers tranquil scenery and the Grand Opera House; the West path features beautiful ponds and pavilions.深度游览路线（慢游）：将园林分为三条路线——东线、中线和西线。中线路线以寻找“福”字碑为中心；东线路线可欣赏宁静的景色和大戏院；西线路线则以美丽的池塘和亭台楼阁为特色。

Hungry after exploring? What’s nearby?

After your tour, savor authentic Beijing flavors in nearby hutongs:

• Courtyard New Beijing Cuisine: Enjoy classic Peking duck here.
• Huguosi Snacks: A great spot for traditional Beijing street food like zhajiang noodles and minced pork patties.
• Ya’er Li’s: Try old-school Beijing breakfasts like douzhi (fermented soybean drink) and jiaocuan (fried dough twists).

The Prince Gong’s Mansion stands like a time capsule embedded in the heart of Beijing—combining the grandeur of imperial architecture with intricate garden charm and legendary historical tales. Spend half a day exploring its grounds, and you’ll gain a vivid, profound understanding of Beijing’s history. Remember: Book your tickets in advance before visiting!