克勤郡王府

Who would have guessed that a prince would end up pulling rickshaws? This is the story of Prince Keqin’s Mansion. The mansion sits quietly on Xinwenhua Street in Beijing. It has seen its share of drama, emperors, and even literary giants. Prince Keqin’s Mansion started with Yueto. He was a skilled warrior and a grandson of Nurhaci. Yueto helped secure the throne for his uncle, Hong Taiji. He was rewarded with the title of Prince He Shuo Cheng Qin. However, Yueto’s temper often got him into trouble. He was eventually demoted and later died of illness while on a military campaign. His son, Luoluohun, built Prince Keqin’s Mansion in the 1640s. He eventually became the second Prince Keqin. Generations of princes lived within these walls. Each prince had his own story of triumphs and tragedies. One notable resident was Fu Peng. He lived at the mansion in the 1680s. Fu Peng was the cousin of Cao Xueqin, author of *Dream of the Red Chamber*. When Cao Xueqin’s family was ruined by political struggle, Fu Peng offered him shelter. That one year at Prince Keqin’s Mansion deeply influenced Cao Xueqin. He carefully observed Manchu royal life. Many believe that the mansion itself served as the inspiration for the Grand View Garden in his famous novel. Fu Peng himself is thought to be the inspiration for one of the characters. The last Prince Keqin, Yulang, inherited the title in the late 19th century. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, he sold Prince Keqin’s Mansion to Xiong Xiling. Xiong was a prominent politician who served in several high-ranking positions. Inscriptions on the mansion’s rear walls still commemorate Xiong Xiling and his wife’s donation to the Beijing Rescue Society. Yulang, now without his princely income, resorted to pulling rickshaws. This was a shocking fall from grace for a former prince. It became a major news story in Beijing. People even nicknamed him “Che Wang,” meaning “Rickshaw King.” Prince Keqin’s Mansion served as a school before being designated a cultural relic. It underwent extensive renovations in the early 2000s, restoring it to its former glory. The mansion is a testament to the changing fortunes of the Qing Dynasty. It is a place where the grandeur of royalty meets the harsh realities of political intrigue and social upheaval.