Friday, 25 October 2019

Interesting facts you may not know about Lotus Pond, Taiwan

Interesting facts you may not know about Lotus Pond, Taiwan
Lotus Pond offers a seemingly perfect balance between local religion and ostentatious architecture, and locals and tourists alike love it. This scenic man-made lake and popular weekend haven on the east side of Zuoying District in Kaohsiung City is nothing short of astounding and well worth a visit. But before you go, here are some interesting facts about the pond.

It’s not really a pond

It’s not really a pond
At over 42 hectares, Lotus Pond is probably the biggest ‘pond’ in the world. The area is actually a man-made lake and is one of the largest in Taiwan (although not the largest, as that honor goes to Sun Moon Lake). The network of cycle paths and footpaths around the lake are so extensive that they would take hours on end to navigate, a pastime in which the locals like to indulge in the late afternoon when the sun is at its lowest.

It’s home to over twenty temples

It’s home to over twenty temples
The pond in its current state was built to celebrate nature, culture and history and was opened in 1951. It has around 20 temples worshipping different deities surrounding it. With numerous photogenic pagodas, fairy-tale statues and colourful temples at the water’s edge, it’s something of a photographer’s dream.

It’s surprisingly quiet

It’s surprisingly quiet
You can forget all the noise and bustle of the city at Lotus Pond, a tranquil place that is surprisingly only five kilometers from the city center. It’s hard to imagine that a lively city could have a man-made lake that is so serene and peaceful within its limits, but there’s a reason why this place is so popular with locals.

It wasn’t always called Lotus Pond

It wasn’t always called Lotus Pond
Over 300 hundred years ago, the pond was a much smaller natural body of water. A local mayor decided it would be a good place for a temple, and once the temple was built, he planted lotus plants in the pond. The pond was expanded twice since then, but the name of Lotus Pond stuck.

It’s a great place to watch the sunrise

It’s a great place to watch the sunrise
Although it’s not quite the kind of area that tourists would expect to sit out and watch the sunrise, the pond is extremely popular with locals who want to do just that. It offers an incredible view and, if the sky is just right, some pretty amazing photo ops. Head down here at 5am any morning, and there will be dozens of people on the paths that surround the pond.

It’s got plenty of history

It’s got plenty of history
Although the lake and many of its surrounding temples have a very modern feel to them, the area of Zuoying is quite old and dotted with historic buildings just a short walk from the lakeshore. For this reason, visitors often come to the area and spend the entire day here visiting temples and exploring the old shops and restaurants of Zuoying.

See more: Kaohsiung's best places to have the best food experience
Source: Internet

Thursday, 5 September 2019

A guide to Taiwan's most famous temples

The Chinese temples in Taiwan are among the finest in the world, so it is no surprise that they are very popular destinations with travelers who want to visit Taiwan. There are dozens of temples in Taiwan but here are the most famous and interesting temples you should visit.

A guide to Taiwan's most famous temples

Longshan Temple

A guide to Taiwan's most famous temples
Built in the late 18th century, Longshan Temple remains a showcase of Southern temple design. The temple is expansive, covering over 10,000 sq meters within its gated walls, so give yourself a few hours to take in the grandeur and admire the minutiae. In addition, let's check out the hall's window lattice for two fish that curl around each other in the shape of the yin and yang symbol.

Inside the hall, you'll find one of the most stunning plafonds in Taiwan, as well as brackets and beams carved into a veritable smorgasbord of traditional symbols: clouds, dragons, bats, lions, melons, elephants, phoenixes, fish and more.

Lotus Pond - Lake of Temples

A guide to Taiwan's most famous temples
Lotus Pond is not just famous for its sunset views and beautiful reflections of the surrounding mountains. The twenty temples worshipping different deities situated around the lake also draw many visitors. The most famous four temples are also the most visually striking. Situated inside the belly of the huge beasts, the Dragon & Tiger Towers are memorable places to pray. The nearby Pavilion of the North Pole and Confucius Temple are also popular destinations for locals and visitors alike.

Bishan Temple

A guide to Taiwan's most famous temples
Known among locals as the best place for a night view of Taiwan’s capital, Bishan Temple is a great location for a stroll at sunset. Its convenient location in Taipei’s Neihu district makes it a popular destination, especially for those wishing to catch a glimpse of the distant Taipei 101 emerging out of a sea of lights in the distance. This temple is not only a place for worshipping the gods but the beauty of Taipei too.

Matsu Temple

A guide to Taiwan's most famous temples
Located in Tainan, the most 400-year-old temple is home to the Taoist equivalent of Cupid. The temple's current appearance is the result of a restoration in 1922. It was helmed by a master designer from Chaozhou in Southern China who clearly infused it with the modest grace of Chaozhou temples.

Wuji Tianyuan Temple

A guide to Taiwan's most famous temples
You would be forgiven for mistaking Tamsui’s Taoist Wuji Tianyuan Temple as being in Japan. But the Yoshino cherry blossoms that flower here in mid-March are renowned around Taiwan too. Aside from being a Taoist temple, this place is something of an ode to Taiwan’s much-loved cherry blossom and an absolute hot-spot for anyone who loves photography.

Read more: Visit Taiwan this autumn to enjoy festivals

Source Internet