Lin's House on Gulangyu Island

Lin's House on Gulangyu Island

Lin's House was built in 1927 and designed by the son of the homeowner, Lin Quancheng. After graduating from the Department of Civil Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, Lin Quancheng worked as an engineer for the Xiamen Waterworks Company, where he designed the Shangli Reservoir and the Gulangyu Water Management Building. The building’s distinctive features lie in its façade and roof. The façade is not uniformly cut but instead features harmonious protrusions and recesses, coordinating well with the roof to create a distinct personality. The roof adopts a sloping, folded Nordic-style design that emphasizes aesthetics while appearing dignified and graceful. This red-roofed Lin's House villa stands out prominently on Quanzhou Road, and its exterior is particularly eye-catching—the decorations on the walls almost resemble a series of “sly smiles,” with rows of teeth exposed. Such “sly smiles” are not only scattered across the outer walls but also found at various railing corners of the house. Lin's House has three floors in total, with a basement underneath. According to Mr. Gong, the building has three unique architectural features. First, in terms of structure, Lin's House abandons the large verandas and thick pillars typical of British-style villas, opting instead for an irregular façade that gives the building a sense of three-dimensionality without appearing stiff. The protrusions and recesses are well-proportioned, creating quite a harmonious variation. Second, the roof’s sloping folds ensure that rainwater does not accumulate and put pressure on the structure. Lastly, the old arched windows, half-wall windows, and recessed arched windows of Lin's House add to the building’s lively charm.

Address: No. 82, Quanzhou Road, Gulangyu Island, Siming District, Xiamen

Type: Historical Building

Recommended Visit Duration: 10–15 minutes

Opening Hours:

Open all day (exterior viewing only)

Ticket Information:

No admission fee required.