Jan 26
Taipei has plenty to offer travelers but if you need a little change of scenery, it’s easy to get out of the city. I went on a day trip to the north coast to an area known as the Bitou Cape and the village of Jiufen (or Chiufen). Here I found gorgeous rock formations, a mining town architecturally planted in another era, a beautiful, hidden temple, and stunning views of the coastline.
Beautiful Northern Taiwan coastline
Several religious practices are popular in Taiwan, although the line between them is often blurred. Buddha can be found in Taoist temples and living by Confucian ideals is compatible with any faith tradition. Reliably it is actually the art and architecture of a temple that can be used to determine the beliefs of its worshipers. One excellent contrast between temple design can be found in north Taipei where literally across the street from the Taoism Baoan Temple is the Taipei Confucius Temple. Let walk through this elegant temple to understand what is unique about its decorations and why the temple is decorated this way.
Moss and ferns cling to the roof of the Lingxing Gate which leads to the Taipei Confucius Temple sanctuary.
Preparing for my trip to Taiwan, there was one name I kept hearing again and again. It wasn’t a temple, or a work of art, or a location – in a way, it was all three! The restaurant Din Tai Fung known for their Xiao Long Bao, or soup dumplings, started as a small cafe in Taipei and grew to international fame, even earning one Michelin Star. Hungry from a long day of shrines and museums, I had an amazing dinner at this cultural landmark!
The classic Xiao Long Bao, or soup dumping, dressed up and ready to eat.
After visiting several temples in Taipei, I got a feeling for what made each unique – whether it was the size, the deities enshrined within, or the devotion of the local worshipers. By far, the temple with the most beautiful and extensive decoration was the Baoan Temple in the northern part of the city. From the elaborate art throughout the complex, it was evident that the community supported the preservation of this historic temple. It is no surprise then that Baoan was awarded the 2003 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Conservation. With attention paid to every visual detail, this was such a rewarding temple to explore.
Baoan Temple, Taipei
I recently had the chance to stopover in Taipei on my first trip to Eastern Asia. What I found was an energetic metropolis firmly rooted in traditional culture while still embracing modernity with a global sensibility.
The modern Taipei 101 tower looms brightly over the city.
Daydream Tourist 