Chaozhou Liu Mansion (潮州劉厝) - Spectral Codex
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Chaozhou Liu Mansion
潮州劉厝

Locations

I noticed this distinctive Western-style mansion on the outskirts of Chaozhou in Pingtung while cycling through the deep south of Taiwan in 2015. In a sea of rude metal shacks and bland concrete apartment blocks this mostly green stone-washed residence dating back to the Japanese colonial era really stands out! Not too much is known for sure about its history, though it is evidently constructed by a branch of the Liu (劉) family, many of whom settled this part of Pingtung County centuries ago. For more photos and information, Just A Balcony has an excellent write-up with some conjecture about its relation to the surrounding area.

Liu House in rural Chaozhou.
Liu House in rural Chaozhou.
An oblique view of the upper balcony. Note the letters “RIU” in the metalwork; this is an archaic reading of Liu in Japanese.
An oblique view of the upper balcony. Note the letters “RIU” in the metalwork; this is an archaic reading of Liu in Japanese.
The house in context. Apparently the block on top of the outbuilding on the right is a water cistern.
The house in context. Apparently the block on top of the outbuilding on the right is a water cistern.

Map

Links

Themes

Series: Southern Taiwan Ride 2015

This series chronicles a multi-day bicycle trip around the deep south of Taiwan, specifically from Tainan to Taitung in June 2015. Along the way I visited many places in Kaohsiung and especially Pingtung. A lot of what I saw and experienced hasn’t been written about in English very much so I’ve taken some extra time to provide background information to better contextualize what’s in the many photographs in this series. Altogether this is a complete trip journal clocking in at around 20,000 words from start to finish!

Connections

Nearby Locations

Featured By

Southern Taiwan Ride 2015: Pingtung City to Fangliao

Southern Taiwan Ride 2015: Pingtung City to Fangliao

Taiwan
Pingtung

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Author

Profile photo of Alexander Synaptic, founder of Spectral Codex
Alexander Synaptic
Curator, Spectral Codex

I am a web application developer, photojournalist, urban explorer, and history enthusiast passionate about the open web and documenting my experiences on this planet. This project was founded in the early 2010s and has evolved into a sort of personal Wikipedia of places that interest me (and often the photographs I’ve taken there). I’m originally from Toronto, Canada, but spend most of my time residing in Taiwan.