Tainan | A Tour of Historic Homes: The Coral Stone Huang Residence on Xinyi Street, Central-West District.

Tainan is not only known for its abundance of temples and street food but also for its numerous "century-old homes." Recently, the restoration and revival of historic homes seem to have become a prominent trend in Tainan. Last year, the century-old "Wufu Store" was restored and transformed into the perfume brand Le Labo, preserving the vintage charm of the old Western-style building while blending it with the allure of fragrances. Less than half a year later, the Coral Stone Huang Residence, hidden on Xinyi Street in the Central-West District, finally unveiled its beauty after years of being fenced off. This stunning private historic home is now open for free visits, thanks to the generous owner. The space has been cleverly transformed into an exhibition venue, combining architectural displays with the charm of the old house. Most historic homes are constructed with brick and mud walls, and their structures appear relatively stable. However, the roof often requires the most attention during restoration. For this residence, wooden boards were used for reinforcement, employing a wave-like embedding technique. The wooden tones, illuminated by natural light, add warmth and a touch of modernity to the overall space. If you have the chance to visit Tainan, this is a must-see. You can explore the house for free or opt for a paid guided tour, but either way, you need to make an online reservation in advance. PS. Although the historic home has an attached café, I personally recommend the café on the second floor of the neighboring hair salon. It's also a beautifully renovated historic space. To access the café, you need to enter the hair salon and climb the stairs to the second floor. Isn't that cool?