Wang'an Huazhai (Zhongsha Ancient House) Introduction
Wang-an Flower House, located in the Zhongsha Village of Wang-an Township in Penghu, is an ancient residence known for its unique name, which translates to "Flower House." The name comes from the surrounding topography, where hills encircle the area, resembling petals around a flower's center. The ancestors cultivated the land and built houses near the center of the flower (mountain peak), giving it the name "Flower House." Originally, there were over a hundred households of Min-nan architecture, indicating the prosperity of that time. The Zhongsha Ancient House, originally named "Flower House," features a small hill in its center, referred to by residents as the "flower center," meaning the heart of the Flower House. This settlement is one of the most well-preserved traditional settlements in the Penghu area. Later, when Chiang Ching-kuo visited the Flower House, he noted its central location in Zhongsha Village, and thus it was renamed "Zhongsha Ancient House." The entire village is filled with old ancient houses, showcasing a unique settlement pattern known as "Sanhe Courtyard" or a "Single Seal." The most famous of these is the Zeng Family Ancient House, which has windows decorated with the character 曾 (Zeng). This ancient house is exceptionally well-preserved, holding significant historical and cultural value. In 2003, with the agreement of all family members of the Zeng family, renovations were conducted according to the original structure, along with a convention established to ensure that future descendants maintain the complete appearance during any repairs. The red brick windows with the character 曾 prominently indicate the surname of the house's owner. The front gate adopts the style of "Inverted Swallow Song," and the area above the gate is paved with bricks, often used for drying fish or peanuts. The façade features elegant Japanese-style 5x5 flower tiles and the stone materials used differ from most ancient houses in Penghu, which typically use coral stone. The Zeng Family Ancient House is built with basalt, and its windows are designed in an elegant scroll-like shape. This site has been listed as one of the world's 100 endangered heritage sites and is officially registered as a "historic house preservation area" by the Cultural Heritage Review Committee. [Suggested Visit Duration] 1 hour
The front gate adopts the "inverted swallowtail" style, featuring window designs that resemble scrolls, reminiscent of Microsoft's registered trademark.
