Cai Ting-lan's Residence. Cai Ting-lan was the first Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) from Penghu. His original name was Cai Chong-wen, and Ting-lan was his alias. Scholars referred to him as Mr. Qiuyuan. Cai Ting-lan was the first Jinshi from Penghu. His original name was Cai Chong-wen, and Ting-lan was his alias. Scholars referred to him as Mr. Qiuyuan. He passed the imperial examination in 1845, becoming not only the first but also the only Jinshi from Penghu. Cai Ting-lan's success greatly influenced the academic atmosphere in Penghu. He taught for many years at academies such as Chongwen and Yinxin in Tainan, and Wenshi in Penghu, making significant contributions to the development of education in Penghu. One of Cai Ting-lan's famous literary works is "Hainan Zazhu" (Miscellaneous Writings from Hainan), which he wrote in 1835 after being shipwrecked in Vietnam due to a typhoon, detailing his maritime adventures and observations of Vietnamese customs. This book has since been published in Russian, French, Japanese, and Vietnamese. This Jinshi residence was built by Cai Ting-lan next to his old home the year after he passed the imperial examination, upon his return to his hometown to honor his ancestors. The building covers an area of approximately 51 ping (about 168 square meters) and is nearly square in shape. It is a traditional Penghu-style house with rooms on all four sides and a central courtyard. The lintel of the main entrance features a basalt plaque inscribed with the three characters "Jinshi Di" (Jinshi Residence). What makes it particularly special is the swallowtail ridge design on the roofs of the wing rooms, which signifies the unique status of an official's residence and is rare among Penghu's private homes. The old house to the east of the Jinshi residence is where Cai Ting-lan was born. The lintel bears the inscription "Qiongju Yuanlin," indicating that the Cai family migrated from Qionglin, Kinmen. Inside the main hall, there is also a plaque jointly presented by successive magistrates of Penghu Prefecture.
Address: 澎湖縣馬公市雙頭掛29號
Hours: 00:00–23:59
Penghu