Jingyuan Garden—Former Residence of Puyi, the Last Emperor

Former Residence of Puyi, the Last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, in Tianjin: Jingyuan Garden Jingyuan Garden, originally named Qian Garden, was built in 1921 and is located at No. 70 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin. In 1929, Puyi, the last emperor, resided here with Empress Wanrong and Consort Wenxiu, renaming it "Jingyuan," meaning "to observe the situation calmly and wait for the opportune moment." Stepping into Jingyuan Garden is like traversing time, leaving only the lingering chirping of birds as a profound backdrop. It's no wonder that the last emperor, while residing here, exclaimed, "Tranquility nourishes my noble spirit." Jingyuan Garden is nestled in what was once the Japanese Concession, and true to its name, it sits in a quiet, ordinary alley. The standard Western-style architecture carries a hint of the Republican era. The main building of Jingyuan Garden embraces an eclectic style, incorporating elements of Japanese wooden architecture and Spanish architectural features. The structure and materials of the gate display typical Japanese characteristics, simple, natural, and minimalist. However, its gently sloping roof, the use of cylindrical tiles, and the interior detailing clearly reflect the style of Spanish medieval architecture. The fish-shaped wall fountain in the west wing is the second wall fountain decoration within Jingyuan Garden. The west wing, where Puyi enjoyed leisure and entertainment, best embodies the courtyard characteristics of Jingyuan. Puyi was particularly fond of this wall fountain, and later, a similar dragon-shaped wall fountain was built on the east wall of the Nine Dragon Gate in the Tongde Hall of the puppet Manchukuo Imperial Palace.