Prince Hu’s Mansion, originally the Qingyang Lake County Office, was meticulously renovated and expanded by Prince Hu of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Chen Keshun, after he stationed in Changzhou in 1862. The scale and grandeur of the mansion far exceeded its previous state.
The main structure within the mansion is the Hui-shaped rotating building (commonly known as the rotating horse building), facing north and south, with a width of 24.5 meters from north to south and a length of 24 meters from east to west. The building is divided into two floors, with both north and south sections having seven bays. The east and west wings are connected to form a whole, with a central courtyard that is 5 meters wide and 13.5 meters long. The eaves and the dripping tiles are carved with exquisite patterns such as dragons, phoenixes, and carps leaping over the Dragon Gate, reflecting the artistic characteristics of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. On the wooden and stone components such as the fan beams, piers, and floor-to-ceiling windows, there are carvings of phoenixes, bats, fish, rabbits, squirrels, dragonflies, grasshoppers, flat beans, gourds, grapes, Ganoderma, and peonies, among other animals and plants, as well as other beautiful patterns, exuding a rich local life atmosphere. The carvings are bold and powerful, with smooth lines and strong three-dimensionality. Among them, there are a total of sixteen murals in the Yingtian Temple, including ‘Reeds and Solitary Duck’, ‘Lake and Double Geese’, and ‘Autumn Geese and Landscape’, which are the only murals in the existing Taiping Heavenly Kingdom murals that include content related to geese, ducks, and geese. They are extremely precious. The animal images on the murals are lifelike and, despite enduring 150 years of war and weather, still retain their original charm. The mansion is now converted into the ‘Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Brief History Exhibition Hall’, showcasing the brief history of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and its tragic history in Changzhou through a large amount of historical materials, images, and objects, divided into topics such as the brief history of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Taiping Army in Changzhou, and the art of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The opening hours and specific business status are subject to the actual opening conditions on the day.Prince Hu’s Mansion Ruins
Prince Hu’s Mansion, originally the Qingyang Lake County Office, was meticulously renovated an[...]
