Qing palace sale attracts State companies' interest

By WANG CHAO (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-26 07:53

Two girls peek inside the courtyard of the historic former palace near Beihai Park on Thursday. Zou Hong / China Daily

Emperor mother's home offered online for more than 400 m yuan

A courtyard house next to Beihai Park that was once part of a Qing dynasty palace is being advertised online for 420 million yuan and attracting the interest of State-owned enterprises.

"Sinopec and Lu Neng Group have already contacted me for information," Zhang Yuhai, the agent for the property, told METRO.

"It is very quiet and beautiful," Zhang said. "Its front door opens onto a lotus flower pond in Beihai Park."

The property currently belongs to Geland Real Estate Company. According to Zhang, the courtyard has a floor space of 1,668 sq m and covers an area of 6,230 sq m. There is more than 400 sq m of space underground and more than 100 cars can be parked in the yard.

"It used to be a palace for Emperor Qianlong's mother, but was ruined in a fire early last century. The current house was rebuilt 10 years ago based on the original blueprint," says Anjuke.com, a real estate website.

According to Beijing Cultural Relics Research Institute, the courtyard was built in 1756 by Emperor Qianlong. It was destroyed in 1919 during a fire.

After 1925, the palace was transformed into Beihai Park and the courtyard became a stadium.

"The existing courtyard is a replica that was built 10 years ago, so it is no longer protected by the government," a director surnamed Zhu from Beijing Cultural Relics Research Institute told Beijing Morning Post.

"I have received many calls from individuals but most of them only want to visit and don't have any real intention to buy it because of the expense," Zhang said.

Zhang said he only wanted potential buyers to visit the courtyard, so he requires financial proof.

He added that the price was negotiable but agreement should be reached with the owner, who is from Taiwan.