Xu's Bamboo Pavilion Introduction
Located to the north of Touhu Junior High School, it is said that the residence was surrounded by green bamboo in the past, hence the name "Zhuzi Pavilion." Another tale suggests that the Xu family, known for their literary heritage, produced many scholars during the late Qing Dynasty and Japanese colonial period. The Xu residence is situated on the southern bank of Longjing Lake, where several bamboo pavilions were built to entertain poets and literati from the mountain town, leading to its name. The Xu family, originally from Jiaoling, Guangdong, had their 14th ancestor, Xu Haomin, move to Taiwan during the Qianlong period and settle in the present location of Kanto Wu, Miaoli. Initially built during the Guangxu era, it underwent minor renovations after the earthquake in 1935 and remains quite well-preserved. The front yard is divided into inner and outer courtyards, with a stone tablet for the tribute student located in the right side of the outer courtyard. The roof features a swallowtail design, and the main hall's doors and windows are exquisitely carved, with delicate floral decorations. Inside the hall, ancestral tablets from the Xu family are worshipped, and the main door at the back of the hall is quite a rare layout. Nearby Longjing Lake, located at the confluence of Laotianliao Stream and Houlong River, is a deep pond that once had a wide surface, making it an ideal place for local residents to hold dragon boat races and literati to row and enjoy the moon while composing poetry; thus, "Moon over Longtan" was once one of the Eight Scenic Views.
