Xiao Men Cai Zhai Introduction
Walking along the trails of Xiaomen Islet, one can see the local characteristics of Penghu, such as the stone guardians used for warding off evil spirits. Additionally, unique agricultural cultural landscapes specific to the Penghu Islands can be observed — the "cai zhai," also known as "zhai nei" or "wei zi." This structure utilizes stone walls to provide shelter and protect crops from the wind. Most cai zhai are constructed using locally sourced basalt stones, while a few areas with abundant water resources use reed as a windbreak. The construction method of the cai zhai is quite unique, where basalt and pebbles are sun-dried to remove impurities. During assembly, large stones are used as a foundation, and small stones serve as infill without the use of cement or lime, relying instead on the angular edges of the stones to interlock, forming a sturdy windbreak wall. This seemingly rough construction is capable of withstanding the strong northeast monsoons. The crops within the cai zhai primarily include pumpkins, Penghu cucumbers, and Penghu beans during the spring and summer seasons; in autumn and winter, crops such as cabbage, tomatoes, and Chinese water spinach are predominantly planted. Besides seasonal vegetables, the main crop cultivated is sweet potato, locally referred to as "zai mu." However, the technique of constructing cai zhai requires long-term accumulated skills, and due to the difficulty of sourcing materials, this traditional craft is slowly fading, with modern cai zhai often being built with alternative materials.
Xiao Men Cai Residence
Xiaomen Cai House
