The Chonglan Xiao Clan Temple is a Hokkien-style ancestral house in Chonglan Village, Pingtung City, also known as the Xiao Family Old House, built in 1880. Official Pingtung City records classify it as a representative Hokkien-style building rather than a Hakka huofang; Chonglan borders Changzhi Township and lies within the same early-settlement zone of the Pingtung Plain. The founding Xiao ancestor emigrated from Guangdong during the Qing Qianlong era and became a prominent local merchant family. The house is known for its red-brick and red-tile construction, swallowtail roof ridges, and intricate jiannie mosaic and woodcarving, and is now a Pingtung County-designated historic site.
The Chonglan Xiao Clan Temple (Xiao Family Old House) was built in 1880, located at Chonglan Village, Pingtung City; official Pingtung City government records classify it as a representative Hokkien-style building, not a Hakka huofang. The founding Xiao ancestor emigrated from Guangdong during the Qing Qianlong era and became a prominent local merchant family.
Highlights of the Chonglan Xiao Clan Temple
'Sanheyuan' is the Hokkien term for a three-sided courtyard residence built around a central main hall with two flanking wings (hengwu) enclosing a threshing ground (heting) — the classic layout for a prosperous merchant or landowning family in Qing-era Taiwan. The Xiao Clan Temple fully preserves the spatial relationship among the main hall, flanking wings, and threshing ground, making it a valuable example for Hokkien residential architecture research.
The building materials are mainly red brick and red roof tile, with swallowtail roof ridges and intricate jiannie mosaic and woodcarving ornamentation reflecting the family's Qing-era prosperity as merchants. Chonglan Village sits within Pingtung City, bordering Changzhi Township, and retains a relatively intact rural settlement texture — one of the better-preserved examples of Hokkien residential architecture in Pingtung.
How to Make the Most of It
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- By car, head to Chonglan Village on the edge of Pingtung City, bordering Changzhi Township — about 10 minutes from central Pingtung City.
- The ancestral hall is semi-open; it can be visited freely during the day. During ritual ceremonies, please do not disturb the clan's proceedings.
Nearby Connections
- Linluo Hakka Village is about 10 minutes away; combine visits to Hakka cultural sites in the same Liudui Qiandui (front detachment) area for a contrast between Hokkien and Hakka architecture.
- Pingtung City's Zhongshan Park is about 15 minutes from Chonglan; plan a half-day route combining historic sites and the park.
Sources: Pingtung County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau historic site records.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Chonglan Xiao Clan Temple built?
It was built in 1880 (the 6th year of the Guangxu era), making it more than 140 years old.
Is it Hakka or Hokkien architecture?
According to official Pingtung City records, it is classified as a representative Hokkien-style building, not a Hakka huofang.
Which administrative district is it located in?
It is located in Chonglan Village, Pingtung City, adjacent to Changzhi Township, within the same early-settlement zone of the Pingtung Plain.
What is the history of the founding Xiao family?
The founding Xiao ancestor emigrated from Guangdong during the Qing Qianlong era, became a wealthy merchant, and built this residence as a prominent local family.
Sources
- 縣定古蹟的閩南建築─崇蘭蕭家古厝 — 屏東市公所官方頁面，建造年代/地址/建築分類為閩南式
- 崇蘭蕭家古厝 — 客家雲，開基祖經商致富史