Huazhai Village, also known as the Zhongshe Ancient Houses, is one of the most intact traditional settlements in Penghu. The settlement's buildings are mainly Minnan-style courtyard houses with coral-stone walls; most structures retain their Qing-dynasty layout and construction techniques, with intricately carved double-happiness window decorations on the outer walls — a reflection of the skills of traditional craftsmen. Registered as a Penghu County cultural landscape in 2001, most of the houses are no longer inhabited, making the settlement an open-air architectural museum that visitors can freely walk through and explore.
Highlights of Huazhai Village
The core material of Huazhai Village is gu gu stone — coral reef rock — which traditional Penghu dwellings use for walls, with lime as the binding agent. It is highly weather-resistant and harmonizes with the local basalt landscape. The alley layout of the settlement preserves the traditional arrangement from the Qing dynasty; the narrow lanes winding between courtyards effectively block Penghu's powerful northeast monsoon. The double-happiness-shaped window decorations on the outer walls are the defining architectural feature of the buildings, rendered in stone masonry or brick techniques with neat, intricate patterns — a tangible reference for traditional Penghu building craftsmanship.
Because most of the buildings are now uninhabited, the settlement has a quiet atmosphere. Some houses still retain their original wooden doors and window frames, though the degree of aging varies. When visiting, observe from an appropriate distance and avoid entering buildings with obvious structural damage; if you encounter an occupied house, respect the residents' privacy. The settlement can be entered freely with no admission fee. It is recommended to allow at least one hour for a slow exploration, paying attention to the differences in the double-happiness window decorations, lime-mortar jointing techniques, and spatial layout details of each courtyard.
How to make the most of it
Practical information
Getting there & timing
- Wang'an Township requires a ferry from Magong; check the Penghu County Government or shipping company's official website for ferry schedules, as departures vary by season. Huazhai Village is in Zhongshe Village, about a 10-minute ride from Wang'an Harbor.
- The settlement can be entered freely at no charge with no fixed opening hours, but a daytime visit is recommended to ensure safe visibility and observation quality.
Nearby connections
- Huazhai Village is in the center of Wang'an Island and can be combined with Tiantai Mountain (52 meters above sea level, Wang'an's highest point) and Wangan Beach for a full-day Wang'an itinerary.
- Near Zhongshe Village there is a Tianhou Temple and other temples that can be visited to observe the architectural style of temples on Penghu's outer islands.
Sources: compiled from context facts and Penghu County Cultural Affairs Bureau cultural landscape registration data (2001). Photos pending Dio's on-site photography.