Religion plays an extremely important role in the lives of Taiwanese people, their everyday lives are often dictated by their religious beliefs. With the multitude of gods said to govern over the various aspects of life on the island, it’s little wonder that there are some incredible examples of religious architecture throughout the region. We take a look at some of the most beautiful.
With over 300 years of history, Nankunshen Temple retains an air of authenticity that is sadly lacking in some of the newer temples in Taiwan. In 1817 it was moved from its original location due to a flood and currently stands in Beimen, Tainan. The temple officially worships five royal lords and is a favorite destination for locals seeking favors or offering thanks for a good year.
Located in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan’s largest Buddhisttemple area is a sight to behold. Housing a monastery and a museum along with the main temple, the site is surrounded by 480 gold painted Buddhas.The long walkway with tall monastic structures on either side leading to the statue of Buddha lends this site an air of serenity not witnessed in many of Taiwan’s more boisterous religious sites.
There is simply no other religious site in Taiwan to rival Lotus Pond for the huge number of temples within its perimeters. There are 20 temples that each worship a different god located around the large pond.Famous for the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, this site is in the Zuoying District in Kaohsiung. In 2004 the local government made a great effort to make the area more appealing to tourists and the resulting nightlights and bike route make it a great place to visit.
Changchun is one of the most photographed religious sites in Taiwan due to its location in Taroko, one of Taiwan’s most beautiful national parks. Built in 1958, this shrine is a memorial to the 212 workers who died during the building of the Central Cross Island Highway.Also known as The Eternal Spring Shrine, Changchun is located a 20 minute hike along mountain paths and through tunnels in Taroko Gorge making this a breathtaking spot in more ways than one. The waterfall and surrounding mountain flora make for some stunning photo opportunities.
