Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden

The Lin family of Wufeng were among the most powerful in Qing Taiwan, and their compound is the largest surviving family complex on the island: several linked mansions, ancestral halls, and the Lai Garden, a scholar's garden with pavilions, a pond and a raised stage built for the family's own opera troupe. The complex falls into Upper and Lower Mansions; the main hall group of the Upper Mansion was begun before 1864 and finished in 1899. The 1999 earthquake destroyed much of it, and the reconstruction that followed took over fifteen years and used traditional methods.

What to look for

• The opera stage - a raised private stage in the garden, built for the family troupe.
• The Lai Garden - a scholar's garden with pavilions, water and rockwork.
• The linked mansions - several courtyard complexes of different periods.
• The reconstruction - traditional rebuilding after the 1999 earthquake.

When to go

Year round; the site is toured on a guided schedule and closes on some weekdays. Booking ahead is advisable at weekends. Mornings are cooler in summer.

What to expect

Access is by guided tour on a fixed schedule rather than free wandering. A great deal is post-1999 reconstruction rather than original fabric. Tours are in Mandarin with limited English.

Nearby

The 921 Earthquake Museum is nearby, and central Taichung is north.

Key facts