The old house in Zhongshe, located in Wangan Township, Penghu, was once a garden house with more than a hundred Minnan-style households, a testament to its former prosperity and flourishing. Walking along the streets, you can see traditional Minnan architecture, daughter windows, cat holes, and the distinctive stone fan shells… The original name of Zhongshe's old house was “Huazhai.” In the middle of Huazhai lies a small hill, which residents call “Huaxin,” meaning the heart of the house. “Huazhai” first appeared in the 1695 *Taiwan Prefectural Gazette*. It was named for its flower-shaped terrain: from the distant sea, the rolling hills surround it, resembling petals encircling a heart. The ancestors therefore named it “Huazhai.”
The cluster of old houses in Zhongshe Village (a traditional Minnan settlement) has been listed among the world’s 100 sites at risk of disappearance, and it is now officially registered as an “Old House Conservation Zone” by the Cultural Heritage Preservation Council.
Because Zhongshe Village’s old houses are densely packed and exude a strong cultural atmosphere, they often evoke nostalgic feelings in visitors. In recent years they have become media favorites for film, TV, and advertising shoots (such as the Brunch Coffee campaign). It is truly a must-see spot for travelers to Penghu.
**Suggested visit duration:** 1.5 hours