Prince Gong’s Mansion: Palace of Power, Lessons of Greed

After lunch on 21 May 2026, we decided to visit Prince Gong’s Mansion. This huge mansion, often referred to in English as “Prince Kung’s Palace,” is one of the finest and best-preserved examples of Qing dynasty aristocratic architecture in China. Located in Beijing’s Xicheng District near Shichahai, the vast complex offers a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of imperial princes and high-ranking officials during the late imperial era.

Originally built in the late 18th century, the palace first served as the residence of Emperor Qianlong’s daughter, Gurun Princess Hexiao, and the powerful court official Heshen, who later became infamous for corruption. Following Heshen’s downfall and execution in 1799, the estate was confiscated by the imperial court and granted to Prince Qing, Yonglin. In 1850, it was bestowed upon Yixin, better known as Prince Gong (Prince Kung), from whom the mansion derives its enduring name.

The man in this old photo on display taken in this mansion is Pujie (溥杰), the younger brother of the last emperor of Qing dynasty, Puyi.

Covering more than 62,000 square metres - roughly the size of nine soccer fields - the estate is divided into two main sections: the residence (over 33,000 square metres) and the garden (over 29,000 square metres). Designed in the traditional siheyuan layout, the mansion features symmetrical courtyards arranged along a central axis, reflecting Confucian principles of order and hierarchy. Formal halls and ceremonial spaces occupy the northern section, while the southern section served as private living quarters.

A highlight of the estate is its magnificent garden, regarded as one of Beijing’s finest surviving imperial gardens. Originally known as Langrun Garden and later renamed Cuijin Garden, it contains 44 scenic spots, including winding pathways, rockeries, ponds, bamboo groves, and elegant pavilions. Blending imperial grandeur with literati aesthetics, the garden stands as a masterpiece of Qing princely landscape design. Its Rear Building, Western-style Gate, Grand Theater, and the famed Fu Stele are collectively celebrated as the “Three Masterpieces and One Treasure” of Prince Gong’s Mansion.

Today, the mansion functions as a museum, showcasing restored interiors, Qing furniture, calligraphy, and historical artifacts that illuminate aristocratic life and court culture. Often described as a “mini Forbidden City,” it remains one of Beijing’s most valuable historical landmarks.

The palace’s history also offers a sobering reflection on human nature. Its most notorious early resident, Heshen, amassed immense wealth through corruption and paid with his life. Yet such severe punishment has done little to eliminate corruption across time. In December 2025, senior Chinese banker Bai Tianhui was executed after being convicted of accepting bribes totaling approximately US$155 million (Read here). Closer to home, a former Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Isa Samad was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for corruption.

These cases, separated by centuries and geography, reveal a persistent truth: the allure of wealth, power, and privilege remains extraordinarily strong. Despite harsh penalties and public disgrace, corruption continues to thrive, suggesting that greed and the pursuit of power remain among humanity’s most enduring temptations.

A Tale of Two Stays: Budapest and Munich - Misleading Listing and Poor Property Management

Our tour did not end upon disembarking from the river cruise on the morning of 16 May 2026. Having enjoyed the cruise, we had planned to extend our stay by another four nights in Budapest.

What seemed like a straightforward arrangement soon turned into an unexpected challenge. Finding our booked Airbnb, located in the heart of Budapest, proved to be far from easy. In fact, it felt very much like trying to solve a complicated jigsaw puzzle with several missing pieces.

To begin with, we only received the self-check-in instructions a few minutes before the stipulated check-in time. The process required us to walk to a different street altogether to retrieve the keys from a lockbox before making our way back to the apartment main entrance door. For four senior travellers unfamiliar with such arrangements, the instructions were anything but intuitive. We found ourselves deciphering messages, matching landmarks, and trying to determine whether we were at the correct location.

To make matters worse, the entire exercise unfolded in the middle of a steady rain. Laden with luggage and umbrellas, we trudged from one location to another, trying to follow the directions while keeping ourselves and our belongings dry. What should have been a simple check-in became a frustrating and exhausting ordeal.

Looking back, the experience was both mind-boggling and torturous. Yet, once we finally gained access to the apartment and settled in, it became another memorable episode of our travels - one of those unexpected adventures that, although stressful at the time, would later provide plenty of stories and laughter to share.

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Once we had settled into the Budapest apartment, we were relieved to find that the facilities matched what had been advertised on the booking platform. Everything was as described, and the apartment proved comfortable and suitable for our extended stay. The experience immediately reminded us of the nightmare we had endured at the very first accommodation we booked in Munich.

Our Munich accommodation had been reserved for four nights, but unfortunately the experience turned out to be one of the most disappointing and shocking aspects of our European journey. The property suffered from serious shortcomings in cleanliness, maintenance, facilities, and privacy.

Upon arrival on 5 May 2026, it was immediately apparent that the property had not been properly prepared for incoming guests. Several common areas appeared to be occupied by the host's or staff's personal belongings. The shoe rack was already filled with shoes, leaving no room for guests to store their own. Clothes hangers were occupied by jackets and bags, while the living room sofa was cluttered with personal items belonging to the host's staff. To our surprise, we also found a tray containing cigarette butts beneath the sofa, suggesting that the property had not been thoroughly cleaned prior to our arrival. To make matters worse, the washing machine contained laundry that had apparently been left behind by the staff. The overall impression was that we had walked into someone's private living quarters rather than a professionally managed guest accommodation.

The standard of cleanliness was equally disappointing. The kitchen dustbin was overflowing with food scraps and rubbish, attracting flies and emitting an unpleasant odour. This was the condition in which we found the property at check-in, raising immediate concerns about hygiene and housekeeping standards.

The accommodation itself presented numerous maintenance and usability issues. The mattress on the advertised double bed was noticeably smaller than the bed frame, making it uncomfortable to use. The door to one of the bedrooms could not be fully opened, creating difficulties when moving luggage in and out of the room. The bedroom curtain was too narrow to cover the entire window, allowing substantial amounts of outside light to enter during the night and affecting the quality of our sleep.

Privacy was also compromised. One of the bathroom door locks was broken and could not be secured when in use. In addition, a leaking heater in one of the bedrooms caused water to accumulate on the floor, creating both an inconvenience and a potential slipping hazard.

Based on our observations, we felt that the property's condition, cleanliness, maintenance, and facilities bore little resemblance to the description and photographs displayed on the booking platform. The reality fell far short of what had been advertised.

As a result of these concerns, we concluded that we could not continue our stay at the property. However, by the time we discovered the extent of the problems, it was already late in the evening, leaving us with little choice but to spend the night there. Had we arrived earlier and been aware of the conditions, we would have left immediately and sought alternative accommodation.

After enduring one uncomfortable night, we checked out the following morning. Before departing, we discussed the various issues with the property's management, who acknowledged our concerns and did not object when we informed them of our intention to seek a refund for the three unused nights.

However, much to our disappointment, the refund request was later rejected when it was formally submitted through the booking platform.

While every traveller's expectations may differ, we would encourage prospective guests to carefully review all available information before making a booking. In our view, the property was not presented in the condition that a reasonable guest would expect upon arrival, and our experience fell significantly short of the standards and representations outlined in the listing.

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Photo of what's published in booking platform site.

Left: What's published in booking site. Right: What's actually offered at check-in.

Left: What's published in booking site. Right: Actual condition at check-in.

Left: What's published in booking site. Right: Actual condition at check-in.

Left: What's published in booking site. Right: Actual condition at check-in.

Left: What's published in booking site. Right: Actual condition at check-in.

Left: What's published in booking site. Right: Actual condition at check-in.

Water leaks from a heater in one of the bedrooms.

Never Again: A Personal Reflection on Dachau and the Legacy of Atrocity

Before my visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site in Munich on 7 May 2026, the concentration camp I was familiar with was Auschwitz - widely known as the largest and deadliest complex of concentration and extermination camps, located in then German-occupied Poland. 

We spent about three and a half hours that afternoon learning about the horrors associated with the site in Dachau.

The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site in Germany stands as one of the most significant reminders of the atrocities committed under Nazi rule. Located near the city of Munich, Dachau was established in 1933, shortly after Adolf Hitler came to power. It was the first regular concentration camp created by the Nazi regime and later became a model for many other camps that followed. Today, the memorial site serves not only as a historical landmark but also as a place of remembrance, education, and reflection for visitors from around the world.

Originally, Dachau was intended to hold political prisoners such as communists, journalists, trade unionists, and others who opposed the Nazi government. Over time, however, the camp expanded to imprison many groups whom the Nazis considered undesirable. These included Jewish people, clergy members, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, resistance fighters, and prisoners of war. Between 1933 and 1945, more than 200,000 people from across Europe were imprisoned there. Tens of thousands lost their lives due to starvation, disease, forced labor, medical experiments, torture, and execution.

Upon arrival, detainees passed through the entrance gate bearing the phrase “Arbeit macht frei,” meaning “Work sets you free.” This slogan cruelly deceived prisoners while symbolizing the manipulation and brutality of the Nazi system. Beyond the gate lies the large roll-call square, where prisoners were forced to stand for hours in all weather conditions. The reconstructed barracks offer a glimpse into the overcrowded and harsh living conditions endured daily by inmates.

Entrance to the Concentration Camp.

Entrance building seen from inside the compound.

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Roll-Call Square.

Displayed old photographs of roll-call.

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The memorial also includes museums and exhibitions containing photographs, documents, personal belongings, and survivor testimonies. Through these exhibits, visitors gain a deeper understanding of life inside the camp and the broader system of Nazi persecution. These historical records help ensure that the voices and experiences of those who suffered here are not forgotten.

Today, all the detention centres have been demolished leaving just one row for viewing by visitors.

After extensive walking through the site, we reached one of the most significant areas of the memorial: the crematorium complex, known as Barrack X. There, we saw the ovens and gas chamber that bear witness to the inhumane treatment carried out within the camp. Although Dachau was not primarily designed as an extermination camp like Auschwitz, it nonetheless became a place of immense suffering and death. The site serves as a stark reminder of the systematic cruelty used by the Nazi regime to terrorize and dehumanize millions of people.

Today, the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site stands as a powerful warning against hatred, racism, antisemitism, and authoritarianism. Visitors are often deeply affected by the experience, as it confronts them with the realities of human cruelty and the consequences of intolerance.

A statute outside the crematorium.

The inscription: In honour of the dead, as a reminder to the living.

Numerous watchtowers were positioned along the perimeter of the fenced compound. According to testimonies, any individual who entered the grass-covered zone adjacent to the fence risked being shot on sight, irrespective of whether an escape attempt was intended. Accounts also describe detainees who, driven to despair by prolonged torture and the harsh conditions of confinement, intentionally approached the fence, fully aware that doing so would likely result in their death.

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In addition to its historical exhibits, Dachau contains several religious and international memorials dedicated to the victims. Chapels, monuments, and sculptures honor individuals from different nations and faiths who were imprisoned and killed there. These memorials symbolize remembrance, mourning, and the enduring importance of human dignity.

Protestant Church of Reconciliation.

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At the end of the tour, I found a moment of quiet reflection in front of the memorial bearing the words “Never Again.”

By preserving this site and educating visitors, Dachau continues to promote remembrance and encourages societies to uphold human rights and ensure that such tragedies are never repeated.

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While Europe endured such horrors under the Nazi regime, Southeast Asia also experienced comparable suffering under Japanese occupation during the Second World War. One of the most tragic events of this period was the Nanjing Massacre. This led me to recall Zhang Chunru (Iris Chang), the Chinese American writer who authored The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II, a work that brought global attention to the atrocity and deeply shaped public understanding of it.

Sadly, she died by suicide in 2004 at the age of 36. Those close to her, along with biographers and journalists, have generally attributed her death to a combination of severe depression, intense psychological strain, physical exhaustion, and the emotional burden of her work. Her extensive research into the Nanjing Massacre - through graphic accounts, photographs, and survivor testimonies - appears to have taken a profound emotional toll.

A memorial statue was later erected not only to honor her efforts in giving voice to the victims of Nanjing, but also to commemorate her short life and lasting impact.

Photos downloaded from internet sites.

Unlike Germany, which has largely confronted and acknowledged the atrocities committed during the Nazi era, Japan’s wartime history remains a more contested and sensitive subject, continuing to cause tension with China to this day.