Tianjin Qingwangfu Boutique Hotel

The rooms open to visitors retain much of the arrangement from when Zaizhen lived here, including reception and dining rooms, a bathroom, study, bedrooms for him, his wife, and children, plus a school and ancestral hall across the first three floors. The furnishings and architecture mix late Qing and early Republican Chinese and Western styles: stained glass, European columns, Portuguese chandeliers, carved nanmu screens, careful traditional brushwork, oil paintings, and calligraphy in Manchu and Chinese. That variety hints at the collision and blending of ideas during the shift between eras. The public route feels restricted. Though the residence covers 4,327 square meters and its buildings total 5,922 square meters, only the front half is open. The rear section, including Tianxi and the central courtyard, is part of the visitor route but mainly serves as a passage to the exit. Some rooms are occupied by businesses unrelated to the residence, and restaurants take up most of the courtyard. That much commercial activity takes away from the historical atmosphere. The mansion is open to visitors as a tourist attraction, with an entrance fee of 25 RMB. It was built in 1922 as the private home of Zhang Lande, the chief eunuch, who designed and supervised the three-story brick-and-wood building with its enclosed courtyard. In 1924, Prince Qing (Zaizhen) bought it and moved to the British concession in Tianjin, fearing repercussions over his association with Feng Yuxiang’s expulsion of the last emperor, Puyi. He then focused on business and investment and stepped back from politics. Zaizhen lived at the residence from 1926 to 1947.

At No. 55 Chongqing Road in Tianjin’s Heping District, the Qing Prince’s Mansion has become a city symbol, with a mix of Chinese and Western architecture and a rich past. Xiao Dezhang, the late Qing Dynasty Grand Eunuch, originally built it; Prince Qing, Aisin-Gioro Zaizhen later bought and occupied it, giving it its name. The design combines traditional Chinese refinement with Western influences from the era’s Westernization trend. Inside, the decoration is lavish, from detailed wood carvings to colorful glazed pillars. The main building’s central atrium is striking: a 12-meter-high canopy-style shared hall spanning 350 square meters, with a grape-shaped chandelier adding a luxurious, romantic touch. The garden has rockeries, stone bridges, and hexagonal pavilions, making it an appealing setting for outdoor banquets. The mansion is a historical witness and a cultural treasure. Its preservation and restoration are admirable, and it’s a great place to learn about Tianjin’s history and culture.

The peaceful courtyard, comfortable sofas, and beautiful crystal chandeliers are all worth seeing, along with the grand building itself. Today I’m taking you around Qingwang Mansion in Tianjin to get a feel for its history and culture from centuries ago.

It’s worth taking a stroll around and exploring. Qingwangfu is a national key cultural relics protection unit, set up as a combined cultural tourism, business conference, and leisure resort area, with an urban cultural and leisure space and a historical and cultural themed hotel. Address: No. 55 Chongqing Road, Heping District, Tianjin, near Hebei Road. Chinese name: Qingwangfu. Status: National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Nature: Resort Area. Location: Chongqing Road, Heping District, Tianjin. Opening hours: 9:00-17:30, with ticket sales ending at 17:00. Suggested visit: 1.5 hours. Best time to visit: any season. Ticket price: 24 RMB per person.