Ceramic roofs
Dragons and phoenixes.
Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0
One of Taipei's oldest and best-known temples, built in 1738 by settlers from China's Fujian province as a place of worship and a gathering place for the neighbourhood. It blends Buddhism with Chinese folk belief, and was rebuilt after earthquakes, fires and Second World War bombing, remaining the heart of old Wanhua. Its glory is the roofline: upswept eaves crowned with dragons and phoenixes in fine coloured ceramic that glitter in the sun, and stone columns carved as coiling dragons. Clouds of incense and the sound of chanting fill the courtyards, and in front of the temple is a small artificial waterfall and a fish pond. Residents come all day to pray, leave offerings of flowers and fruit and toss curved wooden blocks for an answer, a scene of everyday Taiwanese life. An evening visit is lovely, when the lanterns are lit. Entry is free from 6 am to 10 pm, with old streets and local markets around it. Temples are living places of worship: dress modestly, speak quietly and do not photograph worshippers up close.
Dragons and phoenixes.
Carved stone.
In the evening.
Wanhua District, Taipei's oldest quarter
Daily from 6 am to 10 pm, free to enter; evenings are lovely when the lanterns are lit.