Step into the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Prince Shi's Mansion in Jinhua

At the heart of Jinhua's Ancient City Cultural District stands the largest and best-preserved Taiping Heavenly Kingdom architectural complex in southern China - the Prince Shi's Mansion. Built in 1861, this royal residence served as the command center for Taiping general Li Shixian in Zhejiang, bearing witness to that tumultuous historical period. The 6,300-square-meter complex consists of palace structures, residential quarters, and garden architecture. The main buildings - including the screen wall, grand hall, second hall, third hall, and rear hall - are arranged along a central axis following traditional princely compound design. Remarkably, the mansion preserves numerous murals and paintings from the Taiping era, such as "Fishermen, Woodcutters, Farmers and Scholars" and "Four Seasons Fishing Scenes," which provide valuable insights into Taiping art through their vivid folk depictions and distinctive artistic style. Visitors can admire unique architectural details throughout the compound: the dragon-patterned column bases in the grand hall, the "Phoenix Through Peonies" wood carvings in the second hall, and the brick engravings bearing "Taiping Heavenly Kingdom" characters in the rear hall - all testaments to the mansion's royal status. Designated as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit in 2013, it stands as one of Jinhua's most important historical landmarks. Particularly noteworthy is the 1,300-year-old ancient cypress in the western garden, said to have been planted during the Wuyue Kingdom period of the Five Dynasties. Still flourishing today, locals revere it as a "living cultural relic." Each spring and autumn, the mansion hosts Taiping Heavenly Kingdom historical exhibitions, offering immersive experiences through artifacts and historical reenactments. Accommodation Recommendation: After visiting, consider staying at the Seasons Escape Hotel near the high-speed rail station. Just a 5-minute drive from the mansion, it blends modern comfort with Jinhua cultural elements. The "Cultural Elegance" rooms, featuring curated selections of Jinhua literature, are ideal for deeper cultural immersion.