Prince Kung’s Mansion, once the dwelling of Grand Secretariat Heshen was built in 1776, the 41st year reigned by Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty. The mansion has undergone over 230 years of ups and downs. Heshen was convicted in the 4th year reigned by Emperor Jiaqing, and the dwelling therefore was confiscated. Subsequently, the Emperor divided the mansion into two parts. The west part became the personal residence of Yonglin, Prince Qing and Emperor Jiaqing’s younger brother, while the east part was granted to Princess Hexiao, Emperor Jiaqing’s youngest sister. Later in the 1st year of Emperor Xianfeng, the mansion was bestowed to Yixin, known as Prince Kung and gained its name - Prince Kung’s Mansion, which is still in use today.

Although there were dozens of royal mansions in Beijing, most of them were damaged or diverted for other uses. Prince Kung’s Mansion, consisting of the residential area and garden, is the only and the best preserved Manchu royal mansion that maintains the architectural characteristics of ancient gardens and keeps open to the public in Beijing. The Prince Kung’s Mansion has three rows of buildings in the east, middle and the west. From the south to the north, a number of quadrangle courtyards, each including three yards, have been fitly located along the central axis with a distinct layout. The buildings embody the royal manner and majesty, as well as the elaborate folk style, making the biggest feature of the prince’s palace. Gardens integrate the layout of gardens in ancient south China as well as the pattern in North China, and also blend the western architectural style with Chinese classical botanical garden construction.

As one of the important representatives of mansions in the Qing Dynasty, Prince Kung’s Mansion also marks the maturity of Chinese traditional architecture and art of gardening. Mr. Hou Renzhi, a reputable scholar once praised the mansion, saying that “The Prince Kung’s Mansion witnessed half of the histories of the Qing Dynasty”.