Department response: The former residence of Chengde Gong, a provincial-level cultural relic protection institution, has been transformed into a specialty store for cultural relic protection | Former Residence | Department
Recently, a citizen posted a video reporting that the former residence of Duke Chengde, located in Hailar District, Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has been transformed into a specialty store. In the video, "Key Cultural Relics Protection Units of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region" are still clearly visible hanging outside the former residence of Duke Chengde.
The current situation of the former residence of Duke Chengde
Can provincial-level cultural relics protection units be converted into commercial use? Who owns the property rights of this cultural relic protection unit? Has its renovation obtained permission from relevant departments? On August 21st, a salesperson at the "Chengde Gong Former Residence" specialty store stated that currently, the use and property rights of the house belong to the company. Staff from the cultural relics protection department of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region stated in an interview with Da Wan News that they will verify the above situation.
"Red House" is a key cultural relic protection unit at the autonomous region level
![Department response: The former residence of Chengde Gong, a provincial-level cultural relic protection institution, has been transformed into a specialty store for cultural relic protection | Former Residence | Department](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/58d7d10d5ceff67bfcd4f47c25d497d1.jpg)
During the interview, the reporter learned that the former residence of Duke Chengde is located on Xidajie Street, Hailar District, Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. "Red House" is the common name for this building by the locals. In September 2014, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Government listed it as a key cultural relic protection unit at the autonomous region level.
The former residence of Duke Chengde was announced as a key cultural relic protection unit in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2014
The "Red House" built by Duke Chengde looks like a Western style house with Mongolian style details. The interior walls combine Chinese and Western elements, witnessing the historical changes of Hulunbuir and possessing certain research value.
In February 2022, a video shot by netizens showed that the east wing of the "Red House" and the middle east side of the main house had been demolished, leaving only the west wing, which was less than half of the original area. After nearly a century of wind and rain erosion, some walls were also damaged and damaged, with a warning message hanging on the wall saying "Danger! The wall is cracked, please do not approach.". But in a recent video released by netizens, the reporter noticed that there was no cracking of the walls in the former residence of Duke Chengde.
![Department response: The former residence of Chengde Gong, a provincial-level cultural relic protection institution, has been transformed into a specialty store for cultural relic protection | Former Residence | Department](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/dc8d65dfd4705a8314c8f1cefa898364.jpg)
Local specialties are being sold in the former residence of Duke Chengde
"I just don't understand the protection of historical relics." "Is it important that Chengde Gong doesn't have specialty products yet?" "In the past, it used to be a courtyard house with exquisite brick carvings on both sides of the house." After the video of Chengde Gong's former residence being converted into a specialty store was posted online, it attracted widespread attention from netizens.
On August 21st, several local insiders confirmed the above news to reporters.
The reporter subsequently contacted the sales personnel of the specialty store. The salesperson stated that "Chengde Gong Former Residence" is currently a "Courtesy Grassland Specialty Store", mainly selling some local grassland specialties in Inner Mongolia, including beef and mutton, milk slices, dried blueberries, etc.
![Department response: The former residence of Chengde Gong, a provincial-level cultural relic protection institution, has been transformed into a specialty store for cultural relic protection | Former Residence | Department](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/13ba535e1fb39f05cfb07de1b8fd5b45.jpg)
Local specialties are being sold in the former residence of Duke Chengde
In the product pictures provided by the salesperson, the reporter noticed that the products were directly placed in the room, and it can be seen from the floor and curtains that the interior of the house has been finely decorated.
In addition, sales personnel also stated that in earlier years, the company purchased the land where the "Chengde Gong Former Residence" is located. Currently, the use and property rights of the house belong to the company. "Last year, it was almost a dangerous house, and there was nothing inside. In order to increase fireworks, it was reused, and the specialty store just opened recently."
Autonomous Region Department of Culture and Tourism: will contact local authorities to verify
![Department response: The former residence of Chengde Gong, a provincial-level cultural relic protection institution, has been transformed into a specialty store for cultural relic protection | Former Residence | Department](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/3a6303c315fd154e8b84e1695372bf1f.jpg)
On August 21st, the reporter called the Department of Culture and Tourism of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and a staff member of the Cultural Relics Protection and Archaeology Department responded to the Da Wan News reporter that they would contact the local regulatory authorities to verify the issues raised by citizens, and after verification, provide a response to the reporter.