Hsüfu Bamboo Pavilion Introduction
Located to the north of Touhu Junior High School. It is said that in the past, the residence was surrounded by bamboo, thus named "Bamboo Pavilion." Another story indicates that the Xu family, known for its literary heritage, produced many scholars during the late Qing Dynasty and the Japanese occupation. The Xu residence is situated on the southern bank of Longjing Pond in the Holo River. They once built several bamboo pavilions to host poets and literary figures from the mountain towns, which is how it got its name. The Xu family has roots in Jiao Ling, Guangdong. Their fourteenth ancestor, Xu Haomin, crossed the sea to Taiwan during the Qianlong era and settled at the current location in Miaoli Kantou. Originally built during the Guangxu period, it was slightly renovated after the earthquake in 1935 and remains well-preserved. The front courtyard consists of inner and outer courtyards, with a stone base for a tribute tablet on the right side of the outer courtyard. The main hall features a swallow-tail roof, with intricately carved doors and windows, elegantly decorated with floral designs. The hall enshrines the ancestral tablets of the Xu family from Donghai Hall. The back of the hall leads to the rear door, a layout that is quite rare. Not far from the Xu residence is Longjing Pond, located at the convergence of Laotianliao Creek and Holo River. It is a deep pond that used to be wide and was a favorite spot for local dragon boat races and for poets to paddle and enjoy the moonlight while composing poetry, thus "Longtan Panyue" was once one of the eight scenic spots of the past.
