This House Was Actually Built In China, Dismantled, And Brought To Massachusetts

The city of Salem, Massachusetts is full of great houses to visit. There is The Witch House, with ties to the Salem Witch Trials of 1693. There is also The House of the Seven Gables, the Custom House, and many other historic homes. But did you know that Salem is also home to a house that was built in China, dismantled, and moved to Salem? You can visit the exquisite Yin Yu Tang house at Salem's Peabody Essex Museum.

In my opinion, a tour of the Yin Yu Tang House is one of the most interesting things to see at the Peabody Essex Museum. The building is comprised of sixteen bedrooms and was built for the Huang family. It was located in Huizhou, a region of southeastern China. The family lived in the home for over two centuries.

The last of the Huang family members left the home in 1982. The house was purchased by the Peabody Essex Museum, dismantled, and reassembled. The home became a permanent exhibit at the museum in 2003.

The house is made up of two stories that frame an interior courtyard below.

Beautiful hand-carved windows and koi ponds make this a very inviting space.

Eight generations of the Huang family lived at Yin Yu Tang. The women and children of the family were the primary inhabitants while their husbands worked in nearby cities.

The house appears as it did in the early 1980s prior to its move to America. On a tour of Yin Yu Tang, you can see several authentic artifacts from the Huang family.

Audio tours of the Yin Yu Tang house are included with admission to the museum, but you must reserve tour tickets at the admissions desk in advance.

The Peabody Essex Museum is a world-renowned museum that has fantastic collections of international art and artifacts. The museum has many amazing permanent and revolving exhibits for all ages.

More information about the Peabody Essex Museum and Yun Yu Tang House can be found on the Peabody Essex Museum's official website or Facebook page. Have you taken a tour of the Yin Yu Tang house? Or maybe you have other favorite houses that you like to visit. Please tell us all about them.  After visiting the Yin Yu Tang exhibit, be sure to grab a bite to eat at one of Salem's great restaurants. There are several within walking distance great restaurants within walking distance of the museum including Ledger and Flying Saucer Pizza Company.