【台中 一德洋樓】Yide Mansion in Taichung, Taiwan
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If you love history, architecture, and a little café-hopping, Yide Mansion is a hidden gem you won’t want to miss. This beautifully restored historic home blends Fujian-style courtyards with Japanese colonial influences, making it a fascinating place to explore.
My mom had the idea of taking me to a wonderful location that my parents had never visited either. However, knowing how they often suggest great spots for me to explore, like Gaomei Wetlands or Miyahara, I was eager to check it out with them without any hesitation.
But is it worth visiting? Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
table of contents
⊹ About Yide Mansion
⊹ Getting There
⊹ Things to Do at Yide Mansion
⊹ What’s Nearby?
⊹ Know Before You Go!
about Yide Mansion
Yide Mansion was owned by a wealthy Taiwanese man named Lin Mao Yang (林懋陽), who had the mansion built between 1924 and 1928 during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan. Lin Mao Yang was married to Ms. Lai Duan from Beitun. He had many Japanese friends and conducted business with them during the colonial period.
Due to his close ties with the Japanese, he fled after WWII when the political climate shifted in the 1960s. At that time, there was a movement to arrest those who had collaborated with the Japanese. Consequently, the mansion was transformed into a village for military personnel and renamed Yide New Village (一德新村). It was later referred to simply as Yide Mansion.
The mansion's architecture uniquely blends Minnan courtyard style from Fujian, Japanese modern design, and Japanese timber construction. Its red brick walls and pillared arcades represent fashionable innovations of that era and were considered a "grand house" at the time. The structure also features Baroque arches in the corridors.
The house was registered as a historical building by the Taiwanese government in 2007 and underwent restoration. After the restoration in 2015, the mansion was opened to the public.
Today, Yide Mansion is a popular destination for visitors during holidays, and many couples come here for pre-wedding photo shoots! There’s also a café housed in another building constructed specifically for Lin Mao Yang's concubine!
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getting there
🚌 By BUS
Use an EasyCard for cashless travel. Here are some nearby bus stops:
Wenchung Primary School (文昌國小) – 2-minute walk
Changping Beitun Rd. Intersection (昌平北屯路口) – 3-minute walk
🚗 By CAR
Renting a car? It’s a great way to explore Taichung at your own pace. Book a rental with Klook. There’s paid parking on-site, but no discounts for dining guests.
🚖 By TAXI / UBER
For ultimate convenience, grab a taxi or book an Uber through the app.
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things to do
【馨苑小料理】
✨ Dine at Shinyuan Restaurant
Although we didn’t eat at the restaurant (we didn’t even know it existed until we arrived!), we learned that there is actually one located inside Yide Mansion! It turns out this is a pretty popular spot that gets booked frequently, so make sure to make a reservation.
【馨苑咖啡廳】
☕ Grab coffee in the concubine’s house, Shinyuan Cafe
Since we had already eaten, we decided to satisfy our afternoon tea cravings at this cozy little cafe, which is surprisingly owned by the same restaurant, Shinyuan, but located in a different spot.
What’s fascinating about this cafe is that it was originally built as a house for a concubine! Lin Mao Yang specifically constructed it for his concubine, and it was literally right next door to their family home — how savage if you think about it 😅. This place was once used for special parties and gatherings, giving the concubine plenty of space for herself.
When you enter, you’ll find a few tables set up downstairs. There’s a small table with menus laid out with pens — make sure to grab one, mark your selections, and order and pay at the counter. Once you’ve ordered, you can explore the cafe, including going upstairs!
The barista, Daidai (呆呆), prepares everything himself, so it may take some time. You can order, then explore the house or relax in your favorite spot while you wait.
While waiting for our drinks, my mom and I went upstairs to explore this house. As we climbed the stairs, we noticed a shoe cubby where they requested that we take off our outdoor shoes. They also provided slippers to wear while walking around upstairs.
Once upstairs, I felt transported back in time, imagining the parties and gatherings that took place in the concubine’s house. Even though the exterior looked like a regular house, the interior was beautifully designed in a Japanese style.
I spotted a collection of vintage cameras displayed in a case. Unfortunately, no labels indicated whether these were Lin Mao Yang’s cameras from that time, but it was still fascinating to see them. There’s also a very old bathroom located upstairs.
After we came back down, we got our drinks. I ordered the Guo Shao milk tea (鍋燒奶茶), which is Oolong tea cooked with brown sugar. Since the sweetness is pre-determined, you can't adjust it, but it’s incredibly good — very well-made, and it smells amazing!
🍵 Visit the Tea Salon
If you love tea, make sure to check out this cute little tea spot! They offer a wide variety of teas for you to taste and enjoy.
Additionally, there are numerous options for tea leaves displayed in stunning cases that you can purchase, making them perfect for gifting! I couldn't resist purchasing a few tea leaves to give as gifts, and I also bought a bag for myself — ha!
Explore the mansion
Check out portraits of Lin Mao Yang, his book collection, and the fusion of architectural styles that make this mansion unique.
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what's nearby?
🌙 Yizhong Street Night Market
After exploring Yide Mansion, head to Yizhong Night Market for some street food and shopping.
Read more on the blog post on what’s popping at Yizhong Street
🏨 Where to Stay in Taichung
Planning your trip to Taichung? Find the best hotels near Yide Mansion on Agoda or Booking.com.
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know before you go!
The bathrooms!
ADMISSION
Free! Bring cash if you plan to eat at the café or restaurant.
BEST TIME TO GO
Fall, spring, and winter—avoid summer unless you love sweating (no AC here!).
PERFECT FOR
Families. Couples. History lovers.
PET POLICY
No pets allowed
PUBLIC FACILITIES
Bathrooms are available outside the mansion, restaurant, and café.
ESTIMATED TRIP DURATION
1 - 2 hours
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VISIT
HOURS
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
CLOSED
Wednesday - Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
LOCATION
No. 14巷1號, Wenchang E. 11th St, Beitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan 406
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