The Chio Family Mansion is located at nos. 24-26 Travessa da Porta. It was the former residence of the prominent Chio family in Mong Há village in Macao. The mansion’s main building was believed to be constructed no later than 1875. The Mansion is a Lingnan-style three-hall residence building. Later, due to spatial needs, four corner towers were added.
According to historical records, the Chio family were descendants of the Imperial Zhao family (or “Chio” in Cantonese) of the Song dynasty. Zhao Youzhi of the 12th-generation moved to Xiangshan County for his officialdom; and in the period between late Ming and early Qing, Zhao Youbi, of the 22nd generation, moved with his family from Xiangshan, to Mong-Há Village, in Macao, initiating the Chio family in Mong-Há in Macao. Into the mid-19th century, Zhao Zhongkai, of the 28th generation of the Chio family, moved from Mong-Há to Travessa da Porta, thus marking the mansion’s history.
After settling in Macao, generations of descendants of the Chio family studied hard and achieved excellent results in the imperial examinations. Among them, the 25th (Zhao Yuanlu) and 26th (Zhao Yunjing) generations during the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods of the Qing dynasty, were the most renowned, because both (father and son) attained the rank of Juren, contributing to a much-told tale in Macao at the time. The mansion once displayed a plaque with the inscription “Fuzi Dengke” (meaning both father and son having passed the provincial civil service exam) to commemorate their achievements. The Chio family also operated a private school at a side hall of their family temple, teaching Confucianism and nurturing talents like Zeng Wangyan and Bao Jun, who were their best and brightest disciples.
The Chio family made vital contributions to Macao’s education in its early years, while also playing an important role in spreading Confucianism in the city. Moreover, the family actively participated in local social affairs, representing the community of Chinese gentry. The Chio family had great influence on and made significant contributions to Macao’s culture, education, and politics. The Chio Family Mansion is the prominent family’s only surviving residence in Macao, witnessing the history of the clan.
As the Chio family descendants moved out gradually in the 1960s, the house became vacant in the 1990s. Collapses and damages occurred to Chio Family Mansion due to ageing and lack of maintenance. In 2021, it was purchased by the Cultural Affairs Bureau for future restoration.
