The Lin Yutang House, Manor house in Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan.
The Lin Yutang House is a former private residence on Yangmingshan hill in Taipei, built with blue roof tiles, white walls, and a mix of Chinese and Spanish architectural details. It now operates as a museum, with rooms arranged around a central courtyard and display cases holding original manuscripts, personal letters, and everyday objects that belonged to the writer.
Lin Yutang designed the house himself in 1966, after spending decades abroad in the United States and Europe. After he died in 1976, the property was turned into a public museum by the city of Taipei.
Lin Yutang wrote mostly in English for Western readers, which was unusual for a Chinese author of his time. His study, still arranged as he left it, shows how he worked between two languages and two ways of thinking.
The house sits on Yangmingshan hill, so expect a short uphill walk from the nearest bus stop. A visit pairs well with a trip to the surrounding Yangmingshan area, which is easy to explore on the same day.
Lin Yutang invented a Chinese typewriter, and the device is still on display inside the house. He spent years working on it as a way to make the Chinese writing system faster and easier to use.
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