Mandarin’s House
The Mandarin’s house located in the ancient city of Macau is today, a tourist destination which is known for being the residence of Zheng Guanying. The beauty of this building is its ancient or old architecture and the décor that has been untouched by time in comparison to other cities. The house is fully furnished by visibly antique furniture design that echoes a majority of Chinese culture blended with Western architecture.
The archaic or vintage accent of the destination is what was most impressive. The outside of the building is the most spectacular part of the house- speaking from a picture- centered mindset. The exterior of Mandarin’s house offers a look that could make one imagine that they are being cast in a wuxia (Chinese martial arts film) as one of the friends that we visited with remarked. The walls look faded in an ashy white shade that is decorated by plants and flowers that create the vintage look. There is a well that can be seen in the entrance that similarly contribute to the awe of the building. The hallway was another remarkable place with one side lined with sitting areas that are placed alongside the windows. There is also a garden of flowers planted in wooden and clay pots that line the sitting area. The window frames in the hallway are also eye-catching, said to be built from oyster shells and wood. Due to its quiet environment, after embarking on taking pictures, my friends and I sat in these benches, and I got lost in reading one of the online books that I have meant to complete-thanks to the serene and quiet atmosphere of the Mandarin’s house
I think the Mandarin house is an excellent example of heritage as it offers knowledge and enables people to imagine the past and reflects the countries culture. The house is a clear reflection of a time when Chinese and Western culture were merged. For instance, as one walks in, they notice that the entrance door is indented, which is a Chinese symbol of the importance of the house. The door leads to stairways into the house where one can notice the blend of Chinese and Western building styles. For example, one would see two siheyuans that are decorated with clay, just like other Chinese architecture houses. However, the ceiling and the shutters of the windows that are decoratively hollowed echo Western design.
Generally, I would comment on the place as not only informatics but also a beautiful location, that I may compare its role in preserving heritage to popular destinations such as The Metropolitan Museum in New York. It was also right that the entrance is free, and there is no time limit as visitors are allowed to stay for as long as they wish, just like the Metropolitan Museum has been operating until its recent changes. It is essential for the building to be in existence and Macau city in general as they preserve the culture and inform and entertain the public. We also learned the history of the family from the DVDs available. Zheng Guanying (1842-1921) was a reformist who is known for his literature. I learned that the house was built by Zheng Wenrui, (the father), in the 1960s and was later developed by the Zheng’s father. It was later rented most of the time as most of the brothers were travelers before it was then taken by the government in the early 2000s and restored its original look.
Moreover, the Zheng family are symbolic in the city as they have an immense contribution to the political development and also got to see and learn about the artifacts that were used in the Chinese Qing Dynasty available in the house. Later from the house, my friends and I strolled in Macau into Taipa village, where all the buildings are as old as the Mandarin’s house, and the streets are narrow and perfect for a walk with friends. Therefore, this destination should be preserved to save the future similarly.