Mansion of Prince Zhong of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Historical residence in Suzhou, China
The Mansion of Prince Zhong of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is a large residential complex from the 19th century in Suzhou, made up of reception halls, private quarters, and several garden courtyards. The different sections are linked by covered walkways that run across the whole grounds.
Li Xiucheng, one of the senior generals of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, had the complex built in 1860 on land that had once belonged to the famous Humble Administrator's Garden. After the fall of the Taiping state in the early 1860s, the property changed hands several times before it was recognized as a protected site.
The main hall features more than 400 painted ceiling beams and nine wall murals that reflect the tastes of the 19th century. The motifs draw on folk traditions from the region and differ noticeably from the courtly style found in official imperial buildings.
The grounds are large, so comfortable shoes and enough time to walk through all the sections are a good idea. Mornings tend to be quieter, as tour groups usually arrive later in the day.
Even though the complex was built on the former grounds of the Humble Administrator's Garden, not a single element of that older garden survives here. Everything visible today dates entirely from the Taiping period, with no trace of the earlier layout remaining on site.
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