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The Xiao Yun Villa was built in the fifth year of the Tongzhi reign (1866). Lü Bingnan, in service of Mrs. Zhang Taifu, funded its construction. At its completion, Lü Bingnan’s reputation reached its peak. Lü Bingnan had three sons—Ru Yu, Ru Xiu, and Ru Cheng—who were all scholars; the scholar Wu Zigang referred to them as the “Three Phoenixes of Hai Dong.” During the Japanese occupation, two poets, Lü Hou’an and Lü Yunbai, also emerged from Xiao Yun Villa. Both were members of the Wufeng Lishi Society, and when Taiwan fell under Japanese rule, they tirelessly promoted poetry education and the promotion of Han Chinese historical culture. During the early Qing dynasty, Xiao Yun Villa was built in a two‑courtyard, single‑dragon form, facing south with a northern courtyard. The main hall and the gate tower had gun‑slot defenses. The front and rear courtyards and the gate tower featured decorative elements such as Jiaozhi pottery, clay sculpture, brick carving, paper-cutting, and color painting. The second and third protective dragon corridors on either side of the main house were symmetrically arranged on the left and right of the main building. The Xiao Yun Pavilion and the Reception Hall extended from the left side of the main hall, creating a literary, relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of a scholar’s world. Inside Xiao Yun Villa, there is an extensive water system and complete defensive facilities. The overall architecture spans the Qing dynasty, Japanese occupation, and Republic of China periods, ingeniously combining characteristics of different cultural styles. It holds great historical and cultural value in illustrating the process of historical evolution, and it can be considered a microcosm of Taiwanese residential development, with its rarity. Opening hours: Open by appointment every Sunday. Please click the reservation link to book. Source of images and text: Cultural Heritage Department, Taichung City Government.