During the Qing Dynasty, Taiwan had very few holders of the jinshi mandarin degree. This civil service exam was administered in the nation's capital and candidates had to pass local and provincial level examinations before they could even give it a try. Zheng Yong-si, a native of Hsinchu, passed the imperial examination held in Beijing in 1823 and became the first Jinshi of Taiwan.This Hsinchu celebrity lived here in this mansion. Zheng started the construction of the mansion in 1837 after he returned home with glory. The mansion is a three-bay, five-courtyard house with exquisite carvings throughout the complex. Some of its architectural details, such as its swallowtail roof ridges, can only be seen in religious buildings and residences of high-ranking officials. Many of the building materials were imported from the mainland. Unfortunately a large part of the complex burned down during WWII and a wooden tablet inscribed with "Jinshi Mansion" that hung above the front door was stolen in 1993. The mansion is a Class III historic site.