Prince Kung's Mansion sets up shop online

A luxurious two-century-old residence in Beijing is getting the public's attention with a new effort to spread its message and goods via cyberspace, just in time for the Spring Festival.

Prince Kung's Mansion in the hutong area of Shichahai opened its virtual store on China's major online shopping website Tmall (gongwangfu.tmall.com) last week, becoming the country's first major historical and cultural site protected at the national level to establish its own online flagship store.

The first items in the cyberstore are mainly souvenirs, including cartoon figurines based on historical figures and miniature sculptures of auspicious animals. The highlight: various products developed from the character Fu, which means happiness, written by Emperor Kangxi (1654-1722). The calligraphy is carved on a stone tablet in the mansion's garden.