For more than 200 years since its publication, the timeless classic A Dream of Red Mansions has been celebrated worldwide for its unique artistic charm. To serve as the filming location for the 36-episode TV drama adaptation of the novel, an ancient-style architectural complex covering 37,000 square meters — Rongguo Mansion — was built in Zhengding, a renowned historical and cultural city. It was accredited as a designated tourist site of Hebei Province in 1992 and listed as a county-level cultural relic protection unit in May 1995. Blending film and television culture with literary arts, the mansion greets visitors from all over the world with a brand-new look.
Constructed in the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty, Rongguo Mansion consists of three sections: the central, eastern and western quarters, each comprising five successive courtyard compounds. Magnificent and stately, the buildings feature exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters. Lush trees and blooming flowers fill the courtyards. Rare ornamental plants such as magnolia, crabapple, ginkgo and redbud, which symbolize nobility, wealth, longevity and good fortune, can be seen everywhere, turning the place into a miniature botanical garden.
Inside the halls stand elegant floor screens with openwork carvings made of redwood, alongside exquisite and luxurious furniture of the Ming and Qing styles. A total of 23 scenic settings, over 150 figure displays and more than 1,600 antiques, calligraphy works and paintings vividly recreate the splendor of an aristocratic household of great wealth and prominence.
To the west of the main mansion lies the Back Garden. Boasting an ancient-style four-season flower pavilion, winding small bridges and well-arranged rockeries and waterscapes, it resembles an exquisite Suzhou-style garden.