A Visit to Taianlou: A Glimpse into 18th-Century History
Introduction On a cloudy April afternoon in 2024, I visited Taianlou, a historic structure in Dabu, Meizhou. Constructed in 1764, this sprawling old building covers approximately 1300 square meters and once housed around 200 rooms. The Formidable Exterior My exploration began outside, where the building presented a formidable sight. The exterior featured a sturdy brick wall, stone door frames, and a traditional tile roof. A sign on the wall, set against a backdrop of a tree, introduced the Taianlou. The presence of a car parked in front of the stone structure was a small hint of the modern world intruding upon this ancient setting. The Quiet Courtyard Entering the main structure, the air was still and cool. I passed through a stone-framed doorway into the central courtyard. Guiding my steps were cobblestones on the ground and a row of red lanterns hanging from the ceiling of the brick building. The silence was momentarily broken by the si...
