In the past, Nanliao and Beiliao were collectively called Guibi Harbor, but they later separated into two villages. Because it was farther inland, Nanliao pursued farming while seaside Beiliao developed its fishing industry. Agriculture has never thrived in Penghu, and people left Nanliao in large quantities early on, but many well-preserved traditional coral stone buildings still stand here. These structures feature red tiles and stone walls distinctively. Single-family dwellings, three-winged courtyard houses, and compounds once housed extended families. Among them, the Xufan’s Old Residence is the most representative.

The house was built from 1851 to 1861 during the Qing Dynasty. Architecturally, it is a traditional three-part southern Fujian-style house consisting of a main hall with three bays, two symmetrical wing rooms, one on the east and one on the west, and an atrium. The walls of the main structure are made of coral stone, and the house is still well-preserved after several renovations. Owing to its past association with a Taoist priest and its aesthetic value, the Penghu County Culture Bureau has listed Xufan’s Old Residence as a historic architecture.

Many visitors have come here recently to see the animal faces local artists make with fishing bobbers. Thousands of colorful creations hang in lanes and alleys surrounding the coral stone buildings. Combined with the mottled light and shadows at play on the ground, they create a dazzling scene and have become a popular attraction.