Zhejiang Province is very rich in tourism resources, and Jinhua, surrounded by mountains, also has many popular check-in places, but they are not in the urban area.
The ancient city of Wuzhou, located in Wucheng District, Jinhua City, close to the downtown area, has been rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Visitors can visit most of the attractions in the ancient city for free, with only the striking Ten Thousand Buddha Pagoda requiring a ticket.
Among the many scenic spots, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Servant Palace's Mansion must not be missed. Its gate is inlaid with "Jinhua Mansion", which is one of the most representative buildings in the ancient city.
Although the tourist popularity of Jinhua city is relatively low, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Prince's Mansion has not attracted widespread attention, it is one of the best-preserved Taiping Heavenly Kingdom buildings in China. Both the scale and the mural art are superb. It has been listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit, and the internal collection is rich, and every detail is full of stories, which is extremely rare in China and can be used to gain an in-depth understanding of the history of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
The Mansion of the King of the Emperor is located in the East Drum Tower of the ancient city of Wuzhou, which is an ancient building full of historical charm and cultural heritage. Today, there are three treasures preserved here, namely the exquisite dragon pattern, colorful murals and two thousand-year-old cypresses. These precious cultural relics and natural landscapes bear witness to the glorious history and profound cultural heritage of the Prince's Mansion.
As a close cousin of Li Xiucheng, the loyal king of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, he played a key strategic role in the later period of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. In 1861, Li Shixian led his army to conquer Jinhua and used it as a base in Zhejiang, and the palace became their command center.
There are many cultural relics from the past in the palace, the most eye-catching of which is the bronze statue of Li Shixian, the king of the waiting. Behind the bronze statue hangs the white flag of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, as well as a plaque engraved with the words "Taiping Unification", which bear witness to the glory and glory of that period of history.
The structure of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's palace is quite exquisite, and it can be divided into four major areas: palace, residence, garden and logistics. The architectural layout shows a magnificent momentum, while the individual buildings exude an atmospheric and elegant style. The stone carvings and brick carvings on the wall are extremely finely crafted, showing a high level of artistic attainment. Most of the buildings are made of bricks and timber, showing a typical government office architectural style.
It was originally the seat of the state government of the Tang and Song dynasties, and was also used as an important administrative office during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. During the Qing Dynasty, it was transformed into a trial academy. However, with the conquest of Jinhua by the Taiping army, its use changed radically.
The two thousand-year-old cypresses in the palace of the king stand towering to the sky, as high as several zhang. In order to ensure that it does not tip over under strong winds, such as strong winds, so as to avoid damage to surrounding buildings or injury to innocent pedestrians, a stable support structure was installed. This measure not only reflects the careful care of the cultural relics, but also ensures the harmonious coexistence of the ancient cypress and the palace as a whole.
These two ancient cypress trees have a history of more than 1,100 years, and legend has it that they were planted by Qian Hao, the king of Wuyue during the Five Dynasties. Their branches and leaves stand tall and upward, pointing straight to the sky, showing a majestic posture, so it is known as the sacred tree of Jinhua.
The overall architectural style of the palace adopts the classic combination of yellow walls and black tiles, which has many similarities with the traditional architecture in the Jiangnan area. This style not only highlights the solemnity and dignity of the palace, but also skillfully integrates the gentleness and beauty of the water town in the south of the Yangtze River, making it a unique landscape.
The west courtyard of the palace treasures many priceless murals, and these murals are of great artistic value. During my visit, the staff made a special reminder that it was forbidden to take pictures to ensure the safety of the artifacts. Although I regret that I can't leave the best information on these exquisite murals, I also know that this is the best way to protect cultural relics, and I understand this.
Although the area of Jinhua City is not large, the transportation is convenient, whether it is from the two railway stations or different locations in the city, it is quite convenient to take a taxi to the ancient city of Wuzhou. Alternatively, you can choose to take bus No. 15 and get off at Hongji Bridge Station, and then walk a short distance to Guzi City, and then you can easily find the palace of the prince.