Taichung Photo Gallery - Wufeng Lin Family Garden Part 2

The Lin family came to Taiwan in 1746 and became one of the 5 major families on the island. One descendant helped the Qing military and received a posthumous title by imperial decree. This residence is the only remaining Qing era official residence in Taiwan, with construction starting in 1858 with further additions completed by 1895. Today, it comprises the upper and lower houses as well as the Lai Garden.

In 1999, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake caused significant damage to the complex, with repairs continuing until 2014. The residence is now open to the public by tour only.

The final stop on the tour is the family's own private theatre. The Grand Flower Hall has a huge stage with peonies carved, a symbol of wealth. Construction finished in 1894 and was used for military meetings, public banquets, and for the family to entertain guests. What we see here is not the original, which was severely damaged during the 1999 earthquake, but lovingly reconstructed afterwards.