As we came from Japan, we had the impression that “we’ve seen enough temples for a lifetime”, and that Taiwan’s temples might be similar. Gosh, we were wrong! Although both Japan and Taiwan have Buddhist temples, in Taiwan there are also Taoist and Confucian temples. For someone who is not familiar with these religions, it’s hard to tell which temple belongs to which religion, and some of them are dedicated to gods from various religions. This is the case with Longshan Temple.
This temple combines Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian faiths, and was first built in 1738. However, after suffering from earthquakes and bombings during the war in 1945, it needed to be rebuilt after the war was over. Every corner has extraordinary pieces of art, such as stone carvings, sculptures, and countless details to look at. There’s even a small artificial waterfall at the entrance. You can really absorb some Taiwanese culture here, while quietly observing the locals pray.
Right outside the temple there’s The Herb Lane, where you can see, buy and smell local herbs – from dried plants to tree bark. It’s one of Taipei’s oldest districts, which makes it an interesting place to stroll around.
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