🏯✨ *Mandarin’s House (鄭家大屋): Macau’s Hidden Gem of Qing Dynasty Grandeur* 🏮🌿

#chinatravel Tucked away in Macau’s historic **Lilau Square**, this **4,000m² compound** was the ancestral home of **Zheng Guanying**, a 19th-century scholar-merchant whose writings inspired China’s modernization. A stunning blend of **Chinese courtyards, Portuguese tiles, and neoclassical arches**—a true East-meets-West masterpiece! ### **🌟 *MUST-SEE HIGHLIGHTS*:** - **The Main Courtyard:** A **serene oasis** with carved granite pillars, **lychee trees**, and a moon gate framing the sky. 🌙 - **European Influences:** Spot **blue-and-white azulejo tiles**, **Gothic-style windows**, and a **Western-style study** where Zheng penned his famous *Words of Warning in Times of Prosperity*. 📜 - **Underground Bunker:** Secret cellar used for **opium storage** during turbulent times. ### **💡 *TRAVEL TIPS*:** - **Free Guided Tours:** Ask for the **English-language brochure** or join a weekend tour (check Macau Heritage website). - **Pair with Lilau Square:** Sip **Portuguese coffee** at *Café Sabiá* nearby. ☕ - **Avoid Mondays:** The house is **closed**. ### **📸 *INSTA-WORTHY SPOTS*:** - **Under the vermilion corridor’s latticed shadows**. - **The tiled “Bat and Peach” motif** (symbolizing longevity). **#mandarinshouse #macauheritage #eastmeetswest #hiddenhistory** *This house doesn’t just whisper history—it* sings *it in two languages.* Listen closely. 🎶 **🚶 *Getting There:* 10-min walk from Senado Square.** *Entry: Free!* *P.S. Try *Portuguese egg tarts* at **Lord Stow’s Bakery** post-visit!* 🥧🍮