Huazhai Traditional Dwellings

Top choice in Penghu Islands


In the west coast fishing village of Zhongshe, over 130 small, traditional houses survive, most tightly packed in two photogenic huddles. Made of local basalt and coral stone, many are in ruins but ongoing restoration has revived a proportion of them and the dwellings are starting to attract small businesses and artists without yet being overly touristed.

The village was previously known as Huazhai, a name that was first recorded in a book on Taiwan in 1680.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Penghu Islands attractions

2. South Penghu Marine National Park

9.37 MILES

Comprises a series of small but beautiful islets and sea stacks between Wang'an and Chimei, plus over 35,000 hectares of surrounding waters. The four…

3. Twin Hearts Stone Weir

10.78 MILES

Penghu's most photographed icon is a double hoop of stone walls linked to breakwaters in an ocean bay. Built with narrow openings, they were designed to…

4. Fengkuei Cave & Youfu Pavilion

11.88 MILES

At the southernmost tip of Fengkuei is Fengkuei Cave, where strong waves create long rectangular spaces under the coastal basalt. When the tide rises,…

5. Suogang Pagodas

12.64 MILES

The little town of Suogang is dominated by the extraordinary Ziwugong, a gigantic temple topped by a three-storey statue of the Jade Emperor (玉皇太帝; Yù…

6. Dutch Fort site

13.06 MILES

For fine views and nice walks, follow signs to Snakehead Hill (蛇頭山; Shétóu Shān) and discover some grassy terraces on which once stood a Dutch fort.

7. West Fortress

13.31 MILES

The largest of Penghu's five fortress sites, this was one of a pair rebuilt in 1887 following the end of the Sino-French War. Four heavy Armstrong guns …

8. Yuwongdao Lighthouse

13.33 MILES

Almost comically small, this cast-iron lighthouse was built in 1878 by Brits who initially staffed the place on 10-year shifts. The main attractions are…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "taiwan/taiwans-islands/outer-islands/attractions/huazhai-traditional-dwellings/a/poi-sig/1539281/357563",
      "destination": "Penghu-Islands",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "Taiwan",
      "region": "Penghu-Islands",
      "position": "superzone"
    }