Dafan old Xiamen people know or have heard of the "Parrot Building", which is a three-story old Western-style building at No. 70 Minzu Road, built in 1937, and the original owner is Xie Huajin, a Fujian businessman from Hui'an. The parrot building is named "South Smoke Building", but because there is a cement sculpture parrot on the top of the building, Xiamen people are accustomed to calling it "Parrot Building". A few years ago, I went to photograph this building, but unfortunately the door was closed and could not be entered, only the appearance could be photographed. After a few years, I heard that the "Parrot Building" had been converted into a restaurant, so I went to a special trip again, this time in the name of dining, and went in to visit it carefully. [Teeth]
Here's my january 2015 shot of "Parrot Building"
The entire building has an unequal triangular appearance, with six rooms on the long side and three rooms on the short side.
The three words "South Smoke Building" can still be faintly seen on the front, but unfortunately, the parrot brother on the roof has long disappeared.
This is the long side of Minzu Road, and there are many storefronts downstairs.
The main gate is closed
I went around to the side to shoot, but unfortunately the side was blocked by a row of storage rooms built later, and in order to shoot clearly, I had to sneak up to the second floor of the next building to shoot. [Cover your face]
The main building of the Parrot Building is three stories, but at the right angle it is five floors, and the structure is quite peculiar, which is the first time I have seen such a building.
Let's take a closer look
Beauty is not beautiful to see the details, the details of the parrot building is very exquisite.
Even the anti-theft bars are artistic
Below is the reconstructed parrot building, which has been restored from the front to the top.
The parrot spreads its wings and wants to fly
Entering the restaurant, fortunately the original wooden gate is still intact, and it looks antique from the inside. Behind the gate, it became a cash register.
There is a bar counter in the lobby on the ground floor
Private seats in the hall on the first floor
Entering the backyard, the ditch is also transformed into a small pond, and it is better to plant a few small fish if you plant some lotuses.
Since I arrived early and there were no customers in the restaurant, the waiter was quite enthusiastic to take me up to the second and third floors.
The rooms have been converted into private rooms of different sizes, and it can be seen that the decoration inside is as retro as possible, but I personally feel that the chair is still not very harmonious with the style of the room, and it would be better if you change it.
The décor of each room is slightly different
This is the cloister at the patio
Standing here can always see downstairs, a little interesting, people who are afraid of heights do not look. [Laughs]
There are tea seats in the corridor, and it is estimated that you can also eat or drink tea here.
Follow this staircase up to the roof terrace
This is an old wall on the third floor
The roof balcony is quite wide, and there are two floors of buildings on the front, the downstairs is now the office, and the upper floor is the viewing pavilion.
Standing on the side, you can clearly see the parrot sculpture
This should be the original fish pond or lotus pond, and the old villas in Xiamen usually have similar pools in the past.
There is another small viewing pavilion on top of the rockery
The side of the street is covered with bamboo, blocking the jagged buildings outside.
The rockery is not open to the public and cannot be reached to the viewing pavilion. Imagine that more than 80 years ago, this area was surrounded by small buildings, and it was so pleasant to sit here and watch the scenery!
After a careful tour, watching and shooting, I finally had the mood to sit down and eat. Friends have ordered the dishes, I don't have to worry about it and eat it. [Cover your face]
They were discussing how the food would taste, and for me to finally have the opportunity to visit the mansion was the right thing to do, and it wasn't so important if it was good or not. [Laughs]