Passing through the front door, you find yourself in a wide vestibule. Traversing across this welcoming room, you step down into a magnificent open courtyard, complete with a small pond. You are surrounded on all sides by two stories of rooms opening onto this courtyard, with a balcony circling the second level. You are free to roam through this genuine Chinese merchant’s home, which has been lovingly transported and rebuilt on the grounds of the Essex-Peabody Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.

The Yin Yu Tang house was brought to Salem around the turn of this century, and opened as a museum exhibit in 2003. The home, comprised of 16 bedrooms, reception areas, and outdoor kitchens, was carefully dismantled, with each board and stone meticulously catalogued. Chinese carpenters and stonemasons assisted an American team in this unique cultural exchange, then came to Salem to guide and work with the reconstruction teams. This Chinese contingent also spent time learning North American preservation techniques, as part of the exchange.

Interestingly, because the house was re-assembled in total on the grounds of the museum, it had to meet all current building codes. The necessary wiring and plumbing (for sprinklers) is certainly not visible, as the teams made every effort to hide the modern requirements while showcasing the original structure.

As you pass through the rooms, you can observe many items of everyday life in China. These objects were brought right along with the house; the bedclothes, wall decorations, trunks, and other accoutrements of family life enhance your immersion in the feeling of really being there. Docents are available to answer questions, but your (20-minute, timed) tour is completely self-paced.

A brief film that can be viewed upon exiting the home details the loving work invested in this project. It is a true cultural exchange, and accomplishes its goal of increasing international awareness. More information is online at http://www.pem.org/yinyutang/.