Historic Hakka Residence in Miaoli Restored After 2 Years, NT$21 Million Investment

The "Sihu Liu Enkuan Dafangfang" (四湖劉恩寬大伙房), a significant historical building in Xihu Township, Miaoli County, has completed its restoration after nearly two years of work. The project, which cost NT$21 million (approximately $640,000 USD), was funded by a NT$17.85 million grant from Taiwan's Ministry of Culture.

Before the restoration, parts of the ancient residence, which has stood for over 200 years, were severely damaged by time and weather. The original structure, a typical Hakka three-section compound, features a blend of Zhangzhou-style roof ridges and Quanzhou-style wooden structures. It retains historical elements such as curved courtyard walls, a "zhuan gou" (轉溝), "tian shen lu" (天神爐), "long shen" (龍神), a main hall, a "hua tai" (化胎), a well, a feng shui pond, and stone bases for four flagpoles, along with a "Bo Gong" (伯公) shrine.

The Liu family, to whom the ancestral hall belongs, has a long history of valuing education and producing many talented individuals. The county government hopes that reopening the restored building will revitalize the local space. They plan to connect it with surrounding tourist attractions to create cultural and educational travel routes, making it a new highlight for weekend leisure and heritage education in Miaoli.