The Liu Family Old Mansion (嘉義民雄劉家古厝民雄鬼屋), widely known across Taiwan as the Minxiong Haunted House, is located near the Yijian Mountain Cemetery in Minxiong Township. It is a large complex with a collapsed garden wall, of which only the entrance gate remains visible.
The former garden has turned into a dense forest, which takes one minute to cross. Its once-grand courtyard is overgrown with wild grass and weeds. With numerous eerie legends surrounding it, the mansion is regarded as one of Taiwan’s four most haunted houses. After that, the main building complex becomes visible, consisting of the mansion and two outbuildings.
Built in 1929, this three-story Baroque-style mansion features red brick walls and an elegant, ornate design. However, over time, the Liu family members gradually moved out for unknown reasons, leaving the house abandoned and in disrepair.
The family is said to have removed the roof and intermediate floors to avoid tax obligations.
The construction of the house itself is said to have been guided by divine intervention. According to legend, the mansion’s original owner followed a mysterious sacred fire that led him to the foot of Yijian Mountain. When the fire extinguished, the deity declared the land to have excellent feng shui, making it an ideal place for building a home. Inspired by this divine message, the owner traveled around to study renowned mansions before constructing his own, which quickly became a local landmark. Over time, eerie tales about the mansion began to spread, with various origins.
During the Japanese colonial era, the mansion was reportedly strafed by American warplanes. After World War II, it was used to house soldiers. However, after the military withdrew, the house remained uninhabited due to its remote location, lack of water and electricity, and poor ventilation. While troops were stationed there, occasional gunshots were heard, leading to speculation that homesick soldiers took their own lives. These stories fueled the haunted reputation of the mansion. Other folk legends tie the haunting to tragic romance. One widely told story suggests that the lady of the house, suspecting an affair between her husband and a maid, forced the maid to jump into a well in despair. Since then, eerie sounds have reportedly echoed through the mansion at night, adding to its ghostly mystique. In reality, the house’s eerie reputation likely stems from its dilapidated state, overgrown courtyard, and shadowy trees. Descendants of the Liu family have confirmed that their ancestors relocated simply because the mansion was too remote.
There are numerous outbuildings that are even more affected by decay.
The house can be visited without restrictions, but there is a risk of collapse during storms.
(Copyright Claudius Petzold)
