Lin Family Mansion and Garden Ticket

The Lin Family Mansion and Garden in Banqiao is the most complete surviving example of traditional garden architecture in Taiwan. In the past, wealthy merchants and prominent families would spare no expense to build exquisite gardens, whether for their own enjoyment or to host government officials and business associates. However, due to natural disasters, wars, and the passage of time, many of these Chinese-style gardens have fallen into disrepair or vanished entirely, existing only in literature or historical records. Fortunately, the Lin Family Mansion and Garden, which had suffered significant decay after 1949, has been meticulously restored by experts based on historical research, successfully reviving much of its former glory.

The garden is divided into four main areas: the Jigu Study and Fangjian Study, which served as the scholarly quarters; the Laiqing Pavilion, a guesthouse for distinguished guests, accompanied by the Kaixuan Yixiao Theater and the Xiangyu Pavilion for flower viewing; the Dingjing Hall, used for banquets, with the Yuebo Water Pavilion as an annex; and the Guanjia Tower along with the Banyan Shade Pond.

The garden emphasizes intricate details, giving the architecture a rich and varied character. There are over thirty different styles of decorative windows, all perfectly placed to harmonize with the landscape. The wooden structures feature various forms of dougong (bracket sets), such as the 'chi-hu' (dragon-tiger), 'guan-dao' (broadsword), and 'ruyi' (scepter) styles. The 'chi-hu' brackets themselves come in diverse designs, ranging from playful to majestic. These subtle variations are seamlessly integrated into the architecture, offering delightful surprises for those who take the time to appreciate them.