There are Taoist temples in Taipei, which are mostly magnificent and colorful, and Confucian temples, which are rather simple, colorless and with clear forms.
The Longshan Temple is the oldest Taoist temple here. It has its own MRT stop and cannot be missed. You will be guided “elegantly” through a (souvenir) market 😉. Here you can also buy smoked goods.
It is not a pure show temple, as one knows it from China. That makes the charm also. The locals worshipped their saints here. But this temple is also a social meeting place. You can see people studying the teachings on the sides.
The temple is 254 years old and has very beautiful woodcarvings.
If you leave the temple, a walk through the adjoining alleys is worthwhile. For example the Herbs Medicine Lane. Here you can find herbal pharmacies, traditional Chinese medicine, but also simple shops that have bundles of fragrant herbs in front of the shop.
Unfortunately the quarter is very run down, which is not to be overlooked.
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