We have visited many Asian temples and they are all beautiful in their own way. But we must admit, temples in Taipei are one of the most colourful we have ever seen! With so many details and carvings, temple hopping in Taipei is guaranteed to leave you filled with awe. If you don’t know where to start among these unique places of worship, we don’t blame you. The density of temples per square kilometre can easily make you confused. That’s why in this article we will show you the most beautiful temples in Taipei worth visiting and help you plan your perfect temple hopping day!
Before we start, let us say a word or two about Taiwan temples in general. Temples in Taiwan belong to the Southern Chinese style of Qing Dynasty architecture, or Hokkien/Minan architecture. This style can be found among the Hoklo populations in Fujian province, Taiwan, and Singapore. Taiwanese temples can be dedicated to Taoist, Buddhist or Confucian beliefs. Often they combine multiple faiths and deities which coexist peacefully under one roof.
And here is a list of some of the most beautiful temples in Taipei which can all be visited in a single day!
📍 Jing-Fu Temple
A beautiful temple located in the Zhong-Shang District in Taipei. One of the oldest temples dedicated to the God of Land which will amaze you with its incredibly colourful and detailed carvings.
Address: No. 11, Dehui Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10491
📍 Taipei Confucius Temple
As the name suggests this temple is dedicated to Confucius, who sought to unify the knowledge and experiences of China’s already long past into a coherent philosophy. The temple presents Confucius teachings in a very interactive way through educative displays and even a 3D theatre. You will find this place much calmer and simpler in design compared to other Taiwanese temples, certainly it will be a nice break from the busy Taipei streets.
Address: No. 275號, Dalong Street, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103
Opening hours: 08:30-21:00, Closed on Mondays
📍 Bao’an Temple
A definitely must-visit temple located in the Dalongdong district. It is known for its incredibly beautiful decorations and paintings as well as its importance to the local people in the early development of Taipei. During our visit we found the atmosphere at Bao’an temple very pleasant. Everything we saw around was noticeably reflecting the typical religious customs of Taiwanese people.
Address: No. 61, Hami Street, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 6:30-21:30
📍 Jingfu Gong Temple, Taoyuan
Build with hope to save Taoyuan people from a terrible epidemic. Jing Fu Gong Temple was founded in 1811 and finalised two years later. It has some of the most impressive decorations including stone and wood carvings and paintings, all proud works of known masters. An interesting thing you will notice in front of the temple is a fountain with a big statue of a dragon closed in a cage.
Address: No. 208, Zhongzheng Rd, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan 330
Opening hours: 06:00-21:00，Open all year
📍 Lungshan Temple
Located in the district Manka of Taipei, this temple was founded in 1738 and dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. However the building we see today was rebuilt in 1919 and completed in 1924. Lungshan temple combines elements of both Buddhism and Taoism which shows the tolerant mentality of local people in their religious life. It is one of the oldest and most visited temples in Taipei. The temple complex includes even an artificial waterfall!
Address: No. 211, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10853
Opening hors: Mon-Sun 06:00-22:00
We believe you can’t wait to see them all yourself, but there are things you should know before visiting Taiwan
Taipei is quite busy for a tourist who has only limited number of days. If you don’t want to bother with getting around by public transport, book your Taipei private day trip by car here.
Few interesting things about beautiful Taiwan temples
In addition to the above list we can’t help but tell you about a few interesting things we noticed while visiting Taiwan temples:
Dragons
Dragons are very important creatures in East Asian cultures symbolising power, creativity and good fortune. It is believed that they have authority over bodies of water, rain, floods and storms. They also symbolise enlightenment in Chinese Buddhism. You will see many dragon sculptures, carvings and decorations in Taiwan temples. And if you take a closer look you will notice that they are usually a mixture of different animals. They can have eyes of a cat, nose of a dog, deer horns, lion’s mane and eagle’s claws…
The colour of the dragon carries its own meaning. Green dragon represents the harvest, a red one symbolises excitement and celebration, and is commonly used in Taiwanese ceremonies. Golden or silver dragons are believed to bring prosperity.
Questioning the gods
While visiting Taiwan temples you will surely notice people throwing red crescent shaped pieces of wood on the ground. These objects are called Jiaǒ Bei. It is believed that their purpose is to help people communicate with the gods. One side of the wooden pieces is flat and the other one is curved. They are dropped on the ground together before the altar after a person has silently asked the gods a simple Yes/No question.
The answer of the gods is interpreted depending on how the blocks fall on the ground. If both curved sides are facing either up or down it means that the gods have given a negative answer. If one flat side is facing up and the other flat side is facing down it means the gods are giving a positive answer. In case one or both blocks lands on their edges, this means that the gods haven’t understood the question and it should be reformulated.
Incredibly detailed carvings
Art, especially carvings is a distinctive feature of Taiwan temples. The carvings here are incredibly detailed and unique for each temple, representing stories from Chinese history and mythology.
Incense sticks
As soon as you enter one of Taiwan’s Buddhist temples you will notice that worshipers use incense sticks to pray. The correct way of praying is to hold three burning sticks between the palms and against the forehead facing the temple. It is important to hold the sticks high up against the head, not at chest hight or lower. In Buddhism, incense sticks are considered as a sacred offering and symbolise burning away negative qualities in order to reveal the pure self.
We believe you can’t wait to explore this country, but there are things you should know before visiting Taiwan
We hope that our list of most beautiful temples in Taipei will help you to better plan your trip. Let us know if you have visited any of them, we would love to hear from you!
With love,
Jelena and Luke
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