Zhudong Ancient Houses

Zhudong Ancient Houses

Zhudong Ancient Houses

Zhudong is located in the center of Hsinchu County, with the Shoupingsi River and Touqian River flowing along its eastern side. Since ancient times, the area has enjoyed abundant water resources, which gradually led to the development of Zhudong as one of the main Hakka settlements in Hsinchu County.

Among them, the three great ancient residences of Zhudong — Xinhao Mansion, Shanglongxitang, and Su Mansion Wugongtang — are all located here. In addition, there is an old temple built in the first year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1821), known as Huichang Temple. It is a typical Hakka-style temple, enshrining the Three Mountain Kings, deities revered by Hakka immigrants, making it the spiritual center of the local community.

When Peng Kaiyao developed Zhudong, he built five grand mansions, one for each of his five sons. Over time, only Xinhao Mansion and Longxitang remain, serving as witnesses to the former prosperity and wealth of the Peng family. Located at No. 111, Section 3, Dongning Road, Xinhao Mansion is somewhat inconspicuous among the surrounding concrete buildings, but its well-preserved traditional courtyard features exquisite wood carvings and Koji pottery decorations that exude a strong sense of antiquity. Originally built as an earthen house, it was later reconstructed into a residence that blends both Chinese and Western architectural styles. At that time, the renowned Taipei craftsman known as “Pineapple Master” was hired for the reconstruction, while carving work was done by artisans from Guanxi. The wooden carvings are delicate yet not overly ornate, and the colored clay sculptures are vibrant without being garish.

Turning from Dongning Road into Kangning Street, you will find the Upper and Lower Longxitang. Shanglongxitang, situated in Lane 135, is the residence of Peng Kaiyao’s second son. Originally a traditional three-section compound with upturned swallowtail eaves, its left and right wing-rooms have been rebuilt due to severe decay, leaving only the main hall preserved in its traditional form. The central ancestral plaque in the hall prominently displays the characters “Longxi,” giving it a majestic feel. Behind the Zhudong Bus Station of Hsinchu Bus, in Lane 199 of Kangning Street, lies another ancient residence also named Longxitang. To distinguish it from the former, locals commonly refer to it as Lower Longxitang. This residence boasts a vast layout, especially in its main hall and the left and right wing-rooms, where different types of horseback-style roof ridges representing the elements of wood, water, fire, and earth are used. These elements showcase fine craftsmanship amid an otherwise rustic appearance, reflecting the thoughtfulness put into the architecture.

Su Mansion Wugongtang, located in Lane 103, Section 3, Changchun Road, was built by descendants of the Su family from Tingzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province. Covering an area of over 1,000 pyeong, Wugongtang is a traditional three-section compound with three wing-rooms on each side and two layers of walls outside the courtyard, giving it a grand scale. Although it sits close to a main road, the serene courtyard is filled with lush flowers and trees, creating a tranquil environment where the sounds of insects and birds abound. This enhances the refined elegance reflected in the inscriptions on the flower windows of the main hall — “Birds Singing” and “Flowers Fragrant” — and the phrases on the entrance hall such as “Listen to Orioles Sing” and “Watch Cranes Dance.”

Transportation Guide

1. Take the Neiwan Branch Line train from Hsinchu Railway Station and get off at Zhudong Station. Walk right along Donglin Road onto Section 3 of Changchun Road to reach Xinhao Mansion and Wugongtang; turn right onto Section 2 of Changchun Road, then onto Xingnong Street and Kangning Street to reach the Upper and Lower Longxitang.

2. Take a Hsinchu Bus bound for Zhudong from in front of Hsinchu Railway Station; alternatively, you can take a Ubus from Taipei’s Taichung Bus North Station directly to Zhudong.

Notes: Currently, all the ancient houses in Zhudong are inhabited by descendants. Visitors should maintain a quiet demeanor during visits. Please note that Xinhao Mansion is not open to the public, so visitors are asked not to disturb the residents.