Lin Residence | A Century-Old Mansion Continuing the History of the Shuzhuang Family

「Family Background」 The story of Lin Residence began in the late Qing Dynasty with Lin Weiyuan, the fourth-generation head of the Banqiao Lin family, the richest family in Taiwan. After the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, when Japan occupied Taiwan, Lin Weiyuan refused to submit and moved his family across to Xiamen, settling on Gulangyu Island. Lin Weiyuan purchased a British-style villa on Lu Jiao Road, called the "Main Building," and later added a Spanish-style "Small Building." In 1915, Lin Erjia’s son Gangyi caused an explosion while conducting chemical experiments in the Small Building, which burned part of the structure. That same year, Lin Erjia built a Baroque-style five-story villa on the original site, called the "Octagonal Building." Together with the servants' quarters, the complex was collectively known as Lin Residence. 「About Lin Erjia」 Lin Erjia lived in Lin Residence for over 40 years. He served as a Chinese director on the Gulangyu Public Concession Works Bureau for 14 years, securing legal rights for Chinese residents. He was also president of the Xiamen General Chamber of Commerce and the Xiamen Municipal Council, making significant contributions to the city's urban renovation and infrastructure development. Additionally, he actively participated in public welfare, donating to the Chinese Navy and disaster relief efforts in Zhangzhou. The Shuzhuang Garden built by Lin Erjia is known as "China’s Most Beautiful Coastal Garden." 「Later Changes」 In 1948, Lin Erjia moved to Taiwan with his family. In 2006, Typhoon "Pearl" nearly caused the collapse of the Lin Residence complex. After government coordination, Lin Residence was rebuilt to its original appearance. Only the Octagonal Building has withstood a century of storms and still stands firm. 「Renewal and Upgrade」 Upgraded in 2025, Lin Residence now features 37 guest rooms, including standard/deluxe king rooms, twin rooms, parent-child suites, family suites, and villa rentals to meet various accommodation needs. For this brand upgrade, renowned designer Mr. Sun Jianhua, who has long worked on Gulangyu projects, was invited to lead the design. Drawing on Gulangyu’s unique Island Deco aesthetic, the hotel now better meets the aesthetic and living needs of contemporary high-quality hotel guests. Room names are based on Lin Erjia’s poetry, paying homage to the old tradition of socializing through poetry at Lin Residence and reviving its vibrant cultural spirit. 「Lin Banquet」 The Lin Residence restaurant covers over 300 square meters with 78 seats, offering signature Lin family breakfasts and Banqiao Lin family banquets. 「Cultural Space」 Lin Residence embodies the island’s secluded spirit, allowing guests to deeply experience the unique history and cultural atmosphere of this century-old mansion, unlike typical hotels. To this end, Lin Residence has curated several cultural spaces for guests to discover, blending leisure, seclusion, capability, and joy into everyday mansion life. Their spontaneous appearance and presence represent our hope for Lin Residence—to be a destination without a destination, a place to momentarily escape, a portal into another time and space, and a place where body and mind can fully relax, disconnected from the present moment.