The Lin Family Mansion and Garden was built in the Qing Dynasty, it is the best-preserved garden in Taiwan. In the past, the rich and the powerful built gardens to entice government officials to visit, and to maximize their own quality of living. No expense were spared for the construction of these gardens, but generations past, nature took its course, and with the ever frequent wars, most of them are either in ruins or gone altogether, only written records remind us of their existence. The Lin Family Mansion and Garden were under similar threat since 1949; through rigorous work by historians and numerous renovations the garden has been restored mostly true to its original form.
The large area represented the riches of the family. Design of the housing mimics those of Jiangnan region in China. The meticulous layout, plus the diversity of plants and flowers carefully arranged between booths and gloriettes is what makes the garden pleasing to the eye. Hand sculpted decorations laced throughout the mansion adds a touch of elegance to an otherwise audacious splendor approach. It is an attraction worth spending time for. The open-work windows add complexity and depth to its design, also a symbol of affluence and prosperity. The Lin Family Mansion and Garden is an invaluable piece of history, a gem to the understanding of architecture of Taiwan.
(Information provided by Travel Taipei)
