The residence of Prince Shi (Li Shixian) of
the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Jiufang Lane, Jinhua City of Zhejiang Province, served as his military
command.
Li (1834-1865), who was born in Tengxian
County of Guangxi Province, was an important leader in the late period of the
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. He was also Prince Zhong (loyal)'s
brother. In 1860, Li was appointed Prince Shi. After he led his troops into
Zhejiang Province in 1861, the residence was set up where
the prefecture seat of the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, the
Eastern Zhejiang Government of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and the Zhu Yuanzhang
government in early years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were previously
located. The Memorial Hall of the Residence of Prince Shi of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was established there in
1963, and underwent several repairs.
The large residence is divided into three
parts: the palace, the dwelling and the garden, with a total area of 24,000
square meters and a construction area of more than 3,000 square meters. The eastern
and western compounds, the main hall (for discussing official business) and
the Naihan Veranda comprise the principal part of the residence.
The existing construction in the eastern
compound include a screen wall facing the gate, a main hall, back hall,
cold-resistant hall, etc. The screen wall, with engraved stone and brick
sculptures of dragons and phoenixes, is six meters high and 17 meters wide. The
main hall, which consists of five rooms, is actually a meeting hall where Li
held important military meetings.
The western compound contains a total four
rows of houses. Through the entrance hall is a corridor that connects to the
front hall where Li conducted business and on each side there is a garden. The
middle hall in the second row is the most magnificent -- Prince Shi's
office; the third served as the Prince's dwelling; and the fourth housed his
subordinates and bodyguards. A great number of frescoes, colored patterns on
roof beams and wooden, stone and brick sculptures are kept in the first and
second rows of the houses.