Traditional Courtyard Transformed into a Youth Hostel – The Tiles of Matsu’s Old Houses Resemble "Waves"

Reported by You T-Ru / Matsu




▲ Zhuang Shunfu, known as Brother Fu, is the owner of Matsu 1 Youth Homestay. (Photo / From Matsu 1 Youth Homestay Facebook)


▲ The exterior of Matsu 1 Youth Homestay, which can only be reached by walking through the small path of Jingsha Village. (Photo / From Matsu 1 Youth Homestay website)



 
▲ Left: Common area. Right: Eight-person room inside the homestay. (Photo / From Matsu 1 Youth Homestay website)



▲ To enter Matsu 1 Youth Homestay, you have to walk through the traditional alleys of Jingsha Village. The scent of Fuzhou fir used in construction can still be smelled in the lanes. After a slight turn along the coastal side, Matsu 1 Youth Homestay stands right here. It is Matsu’s first youth hostel and currently the favorite lodging spot for foreigners visiting Matsu.





▲ "Actually, when I first started operating, I didn’t even know what a 'youth hostel' was. I just had the idea of putting many beds in one room, so I naively went ahead and opened it," Brother Fu admitted. Originally, he simply wanted to use this traditional Min Dong-style courtyard and incorporate his vision of a "youth hostel" into the interior design, which eventually became what it is today. "After we started operating, I realized that many of the visitors to Matsu are backpackers." As a gathering place for backpackers, Matsu 1 Youth Homestay sees travelers gathering in the common area every night to talk about the beauty of Matsu. As a professional guide, Brother Fu also shares insightful tips with them.

 
                       

▲ The central courtyard is the most distinctive feature of this traditional courtyard house. (Photo / From Matsu 1 Youth Homestay website)



▲ Single room, with a window offering a full view of the traditional roof tiles. (Photo / From Matsu 1 Youth Homestay website)

▲ The tightly arranged traditional roof tiles form layered patterns resembling waves, creating a unique kind of beauty. (Photo / From Matsu 1 Youth Homestay website)
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