Lin Family Ancient House Leisure Farm Introduction
Before entering the Lin Family Ancient House located in Dapu Village, Guanyin District, you are greeted by a straw doll made of rice straw with a gourd for a nose, a creation of the owner Lin Jintang. Everything you see in the garden, including old cows, puppets, and traditional bamboo irrigation waterwheels, has been crafted by the owner. The garden features approximately 7 hectares of lotus fields, relaxation areas, melon arbors, and the ancient house, primarily focused on lotus viewing and selling related products. During the flower season from June to October, sunflowers and ginger flowers can also be admired. The Lin Family Ancient House is a historic structure of over a hundred years, designed in a traditional Min Nan-style courtyard with four protective dragons, attracting visitors with its antique charm. As the scent of lotus flowers fills the air, the pathway lined with wine jars, red brick arches, and swaying straw dolls creates a lush green scene, reminiscent of the simple rural society of early Republican China. The descendants of the Lin family, dedicated to preserving the heritage site, aimed to let more people appreciate the beauty of the ancient house by transforming it into a local cultural museum. They provide professional tours to introduce historical artifacts to visitors, achieving an educational and entertaining experience! There is also a sales area offering delicious items such as lotus seed ice cream, lotus flower tea, sunflower ice cream, lotus seed pastries, stone lotus jelly, and lotus seed jelly. The relaxation area features a pond with several lotus flowers and ducks, allowing visitors to enjoy lotus seed ice cream while admiring the lotus and watching ducks play in the water, experiencing the joys of rural life. Next to the relaxation area, the melon arbor grows vegetables such as pumpkins, grapes, and loofahs, leading to the expansive lotus fields. Within the ancient house, which boasts a history of over a hundred years and belongs to the traditional Min Nan-style sanheyuan architecture, ancient furniture and farming tools are displayed, narrating the lifestyle, ecology, and uses of lotus flowers in traditional farming households. It presents a rustic and charming view of rural life. On the way back, don't forget to buy some fresh lotus seeds, scented lotus flower tea, lotus roots, lotus root powder, and other local products, perfect for gifts or personal enjoyment. (Part of the information is sourced from the "Welcoming City III" published by the Taoyuan City Government Hakka Affairs Council.)
