On Sunday morning, 16^th April, 2023, faculty, fellows and members of Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau set off on an outbound excursion to retrace the origins of one of Macau’s most famous historic settlement:  the former residential complex of patriot, Zheng Guanying.

The Mandarin’s House exhibits typical characteristics of traditional Guangdong’s architecture, yet, it also encompasses a fascinating blend of Western and Asian architectural influence.

According to the couplets found inside the house, our tour guide explained that Mr. Zheng Wenrui, (the family patriarch), initiated the construction of the Mandarin’s House, which might have started in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The mansion was expanded by Zheng Guanying, a merchant, writer and philanthropist, to the form that it is today.

The opulent house occupies a total of 4000m² on which are buildings and open spaces designed in various architectural styles. The entire complex has more than 60 rooms in total. A private residence for one family of such scale is rare in Macao.

Sometime during the 1950’s to 1960’s, the descendants of the Zheng’s family vacated the mansion and resided in different places. The house was then rented out, with more than 300 tenants crammed inside the complex, constituting to poor living conditions. Today, the Mandarin’s house is fully restored and is listed as one of Macau’s intangible assets: UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit to Yuqing Mansion

Appreciation of paintings on the wall

Introduction of windows made of oyster shells

Sharing the deeds of the patriot, Zheng Guanying

Group photo at Ronglu Hallway