Lin Ben-yuan Residence and Garden (Banqiao Lin Family Garden)

The Lin Ben-yuan Residence and Garden, originally named Banqiao Villa, is one of the three renowned architectural complexes of the Banqiao Lin Family, alongside the Lin Family Garden and the Three-Compound and Five-Compound Residences. Covering a total area of 17,331 ping, its construction spanned 40 years. Most of the artisans and materials were hired or procured from China, costing a total of 500,000 taels of silver. This amount significantly surpassed the mere 200,000 taels spent on building Taipei City in the early Guangxu era, highlighting the immense scale and grandeur of this construction project. The architecture of the residence and garden features a rigorous layout and beautiful proportions. Construction materials include those sourced from China and precious camphor wood from Taiwan. The interior decoration is exceptionally opulent, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The roofs are designed in a swallowtail style, making it arguably the finest architecture in Taiwan at that time. Within the garden, the pavilions, terraces, multi-story buildings, and towers are delicately elegant. Winding corridors enhance its serene and intricate beauty. Combined with artificial mountains and ponds, picturesque views are found everywhere, earning it the reputation as 'the crown jewel of gardens in Taipei'.