DALONGDONG BAOAN TEMPLE

Maybe one of our favorite temples in Taipei! Only a few steps from the place of worship dedicated to Confucius, this magnificent temple contrasts with its neighbor as its facade and interior are richly decorated. It is dedicated to Baosheng Tati, the god of medicine, brought by immigrants from Fujian Province in the 18th century, but the structure of the present building dates from 1804. As many Taiwanese are of Fujian origin, the temple is particularly popular. It is a real place of life, where the inhabitants come to pray and burn incense. There is therefore a spiritual atmosphere, which gives an idea of the religious thought of Taiwan. Surrounding the central sanctuary, a surrounding wall contains small niches where statues of various deities are displayed. The idea is to pray each of them to attract good fortune, before ending up in front of the main statues in the center of the temple. Offerings as diverse as varied are then deposited there.

In 2003, its stewards were recognized by UNESCO for their restoration efforts to preserve this magnificent example of Taiwanese cultural heritage. Another way of saying that if Taiwan were in UNESCO, the Bao An temple would probably be a world heritage site. Don't forget to make a little stop in the garden, across the street, with its pond where many koi, the Chinese carps, live.