26th March 2024
I finally had a chance to write about this UX I recently ventured into after having a school break due to the examination period of another batch. This has long been sitting in my gallery, so I opted to share it here. I took the courage to visit this place alone last Chinese New Year after seeing a post about it on FB. I was curious, and I thought it would be the best place to feature on UX.
The Yu Yuen Mansion stands as a forgotten gem nestled in the middle of dense village houses near Long Ping Station. A once-rich residence is now in a haunting abandonment state. Although it's deteriorating, its stories are still echoing through its corridors.
But I had trouble finding the mansion before I got my feet into it. I later realized that I had spent a significant amount of time following the incorrect coordinates. I spent over an hour exploring the residential neighborhood where the mansion is located. Eventually, I came across a tiny temple, and asked a lady guard how to get to the abandoned mansion. Among all the individuals I asked about it, she was the only one who correctly answered my question. She even showed me how to get to the mansion's door, which made me delighted. It just so happened that the temple was a short stroll away.
The mansion came into view adorned with a red brick facade in colonial architecture with a round cupola, verandas, and a long-forgotten fountain in the front garden. The building seems sturdy, although the walls are deteriorated, and all wood windows almost have fallen off the frames. Time has taken its toll, it was left to rot, and some banyan trees seem to want to claim this territory.
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I was welcomed by this little reptile and his family who appeared to be occupying this blue-tiled water fountain.
The spacious front garden becomes a parking lot for cars of some residents and visitors visiting the area.
To be honest, I felt uneasy as I drew nearer to the mansion. I was alone in this haunted place. How do you suppose I'll feel? The mansion is dark inside, with the only source of light coming from the broken windows. Though I'm not sure what's within, my curiosity allowed me to prepare for what might come. Were I even prepared? My head was already filled with ghost images before I even entered the eerie mansion.
Some folks have lit incense sticks in front of the door. This is said to send bad spirits away. The thought gave me goosebumps.
I tried to be bold and took a deep breath before entering, but on the inside, my frail soul was trembling, lol. I had a feeling of fear and disappointment. A thriving wealthy family's home is now completely filled with junk. It appears that a ton of trash was abandoned instead of the house. Once-relaxing rooms with elaborate decor are now covered in mountains of twigs and other items that the recent user left to rot.
According to Wikipedia, this was built in 1927 by a prominent family which was intended to be half farm half villa. The place was later turned into a recreational park before 1950 and was opened to the public. After its closure and was left in disrepair, it was listed as Grade I historic building in 2007 but was downgraded to Grade II in 2010.
In later years, the mansion's cinematic view and mystique setting drew curious visitors and even directors. It became a setting for film shootings. Some notable movies include Rouge in 1987, Fist of Fury in 1991, and Blood Splattered on the West Side in 1992. And this explains why the mansion is now full of trash. Those rotting things were probably left by some crews who held shooting at this mansion. And just because it is abandoned, they simply dump their trash in there.
At the back of the first floor is this area with parts covered with vines and tree canopies. Nature started to reclaim its part, and this mansion will surely collapse sooner or later since it's left in disrepair.
I got shivers going up to the second story because of the dark staircase, and the possibility of running into some supernatural beings, lol. I was relieved to get a better perspective of the higher rooms as I cautiously ascended without making any noise.
From a red brick exterior facade to a royal navy and emerald interior facade. Its interior shows colonial designs, from floors, wall panels, ceilings, glazed doors, and windows.
The second floor gives way to bedrooms and study halls. There are things probably left by the original owner of this mansion. Others undoubtedly come from various crews who used this location for filming. I wonder if there were people who made use of that bed. Meanwhile, the kid's bicycle appears spooky. A giggling sound of a kid echoed in my mind when saw it.
Do you feel afraid to touch abandoned objects for fear that evil spirits would harm you? Well, I was initially hesitant since I was raised in a country with a lot of superstitious beliefs. The original owner of this mansion left some items, including a cello, chair, and mirror. I wanted to position them in front of me, so I was able to touch them gradually.
There are rumors about this haunted mansion that make curious adventurers explore it. In this article, some said that it had been an execution ground during the war, while others said that seven servants had drowned in a night. Perhaps, those who aren't brave enough won't dare to explore this territory after hearing those spooky tales.
If my memory serves me right, there are seven rooms on the second floor, including the shower room.
I didn't dare to enter this room as it gave me a creepy hospital vibe. I was imagining that table to be an operating table where human traffickers remove the organs of their victims, lol. I guess I watched too many movies and dramas.
The balcony area overlooks the dense village. There is a playground for the kids and a small Chinese medicine factory nearby. There was supposed to be a farm here, but it is now a residential village.
It feels nostalgic to stay here imagining the wealthy life the of owner's family back in the day. What was the reason they fled all of a sudden? Whatever it was, only the old mansion knows.
The extension rooms on the second floor perhaps the servants' quarter. There's a staircase going up to another veranda on the next floor of this place, but I didn't go up.
The roofs of this part are now covered with thriving vines and tree canopies which gives beauty to the place.
The room on this side is the kitchen which has less trash than other rooms. Why is the kitchen on the second floor? I asked myself. It was the last room that I checked before I bid goodbye to the mansion.
It was growing dark when I made the decision to leave the area thirty minutes past five in the afternoon. In a haunted mansion like this, staying up late into the night without company is definitely not appropriate. Despite being abandoned for many decades, the walls still bear traces of the past, and stories still echo through the hallways.
How to get to Yu Yeun Mansion?
As mentioned above, I was following the wrong coordinates which consumed most of my time. I even searched for it around Yeun Long neighborhood, only to find out later after I studied the map that it's accessible by feet from Long Ping station. I got lost inside the dense village before I was able to see this mansion with the help of the lady guard stationed in a temple.
It's less than a twenty-minute walk from Long Ping Exit A station. From the MTR station, head straight about 10 minutes, walk past a pedestrian, then make a little detour to the left going inside the village. The location is just near the playground. It is noticeable being the oldest colonial building around the area, with a spacious space with parked cars in front of it.
Even though it's deteriorating, you can still appreciate its architectural designs both interior and exterior. Some banyan trees seem to want to claim this territory, but those shrubs on roofs, and walls consumed by banyan roots actually add charm to its appearance.
Thanks for your time.
Jane is a Filipina wanderer in a foreign land who finds comfort in nature and freedom in writing. She loves watching raw picturesque landscapes, listening to the symphony of nature, breathing in drops of sunshine, walking through scenic trails and cityscapes, tasting new culinary flavors, capturing pretty little things, venturing into hidden gems, and dancing with the flow of life.
Her new experiences, adventures, challenges, lessons, small successes, and joys are colorful paints that fill up her canvas of life. She hopes to see it beautifully painted while she can. Join her on her quest for self-discovery and wanderlust. If you like her content, don't hesitate to upvote, drop a comment, reblog, and follow for more wonderful adventures.
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