Princess Villa (Gongzhu Lou) is one of the most recognisable houses in Badaguan, Qingdao's leafy district of historic villas. According to our guide, it was built in 1941 to a design by Vladimir Georgievich Yuriev, an émigré from the Russian Empire, for a German immigrant. The style nods to Copenhagen: brick and timber walls on a granite base, a sharply pitched roof, a little tower and dormer windows. Locally a romantic legend persists that the house was built for a Danish princess who never came, which gave it its name; treat that as a story rather than history.
Visitors mostly praise the outside: bright colours, the red roof, the terrace and the small back garden with a children's path and a church-like music box make it one of the most photogenic spots in Badaguan. Inside there are three floors plus a basement with period furnishings, personal items and photos of the family who lived there, plus fairy-tale décor inspired by Hans Christian Andersen. Opinions on the interior are split: some enjoy the cosy rooms, others call it average and say the garden feels artificial.
Practical tips: a ticket costs 20 yuan. A combined ticket with the Spanish Style Pavilion and the Butterfly Building is sold; the Spanish pavilion stands right opposite, while the Butterfly Building is farther away. Allow 30-60 minutes for the house and combine it with a walk along the tree-lined streets of Badaguan and down to Bathing Beach No. 2 to the east. Come in the morning to avoid crowds; last tickets are sold about an hour before closing. Paid parking nearby costs around 20 yuan per hour, so public transport is more sensible.
Common complaints: crowds at weekends, an interior some find unremarkable and the combined ticket that some consider poor value. If you are short on time, admire the façade from the street for free and only buy the single ticket if the interior interests you. The house can be hard to spot among the villas, so navigate to No. 10 Juyongguan Road.
