“A residence of notable people” is what some might call it. Today, we find ourselves before the \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c. This Qing Dynasty palace belonged to Zaixun. He was a Beile or Lord. The \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c stands as a window into China’s imperial past.
Zaixun inherited the title in 1902. Later, in 1908, he was promoted to a Prince. Following the Emperor’s accession, Zaixun assisted his brother. His brother was Prince Regent Zaifeng. Zaixun took on the role of Naval Minister.
The \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c faces south. The compound divides into two sections. These are the residence and a garden. After the People’s Republic of China formed, the Communist Party used it for offices. Many original buildings went through reconstruction. Today, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee still uses the \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c.
You can find the \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c at 110 Xidan North Main Street. It sits north of Lingjing Hutong. To the east lies the former palace wall. The palace buildings feature three distinct routes. Each building boasts a hard gable roof with cylindrical tiles. The scale is smaller than the early Qing Dynasty palaces.
During the Republic of China, Zaixun sold parts of the \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c. He sold it to the Confucian College and General Wan Fulin. After changing hands, parts were demolished. The Confucian College site became an office building. Only one courtyard in the east remains. Sections of the eastern and southern palace walls still stand.
The eastern route has three courtyards. These include front, middle, and rear halls. Side and ear rooms exist as well. A fancy gate connects to a corridor and the rear hall. The central route features two main houses. It also has east and west厢房 and ear rooms in the front yard. The western route includes two courtyards. These have main halls and east-west厢房. All connect via corridors.
Seventy-two buildings remain today. Some interiors still display beautiful wooden decorations. The architectural area covers about 2407 square meters. The \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c received recognition on August 1, 1989.
Zaixun was the seventh son of Prince Yixuan. He was also the younger brother of Prince Regent Zaifeng. In 1902, Zaixun inherited Duan County Prince Yizhi’s title. He became a Beile. In 1908, he became a Prince. In 1910, Zaixun went to America to study military administration. When landing in San Francisco, an activist tried to assassinate him. After the 1911 Revolution, he lived in Tianjin until his death.
Initially, Duan Prince’s residence stood on Ping’anli West Main Street. The Eight-Nation Alliance burned it down. So, they rebuilt the \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c in Dongzhimen.
As we conclude our visit, remember the \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c. It embodies late Qing Dynasty architecture. It also carries stories of princes, political shifts, and enduring heritage. Though altered, the \u6d35\u8d1d\u52d2\u5e9c remains a significant site. It stands as a reminder of Beijing’s rich history.