Dongli Family Heritage - Century-old House Introduction
Yuanli Township was originally the habitat of the Takkas tribe (also known as the Pingpu people). Before the Qing Dynasty, there were four communities of Takkas people: "Fangli Society," "Yuanli Society," "Mao Yao Society," and "Ribei Society." The area around Zhong Gou Wei (the western end of the Zhong Gou region) features flat and expansive terrain, where the "Zheng Family Settlement in Zhong Gou" was built under the guidance of ancestors with wisdom. The architectural layout of the entire "Zheng Family Settlement in Zhong Gou" faces south, with the mountain to the north (at the back) and a stream to the south (in front); to the right is the "Zheng Family Old House," in the center is the "Dongli Family Compound," a large three-section courtyard, and to the left is the "Zheng Residence," a Japanese-style ancient building. The east and west form a vast and impressive settlement. The "Dongli Family Compound" features a three-section courtyard design, representing one of the few well-preserved red brick and glazed tile buildings in Taiwan. Under government guidance for renovation and protection, it showcases the intricately carved original architectural artistry based on traditional Chinese construction methods. The courtyard also features a century-old dragon cypress tree, linking the main body of the three-section courtyard with the surrounding four auxiliary buildings (wing rooms), making it a uniquely attractive area for accommodations. This has led to frequent filming by television stations at the ancient house, marking it as one of the important tourist attractions in Yuanli Township.
