Popular folklore holds that unmarried couples who visit the temple together will break up. One explanation is that Lv Dongbin, famous for his Taoist sexual prowess, can be counted upon to seduce any unmarried woman (older versions specify that she must be a virgin). Another is that since Lv Dongbin’s love for Immortal Woman He was unanswered, he is jealous of lovers.

Zhi Nan Temple is famous for its stairway of “1000″ steps. (This is to the Yuanzhen Pond and the Tudigong shrine; the gate of the Chunyang Chapel requires a further 300 steps.)

I only walked down the 1300 steps after my visit to the temple because I took a bus route No. 530 all the way up to Zhi Nan Temple parking lot.

After I got off the bus, there’s still some steps to walk. On the way to the temple, I felt hungry and got some smelly tofu at this open-air food stall in a pavilion.

The oldest part of the temple is the Chunyang Chapel, constructed in 1890. Funding came from gold miners working in Jinshan. This shrine houses a statue of Lv Dongbin, founder of the Chunyang sect of Quanzhen (“Complete Perfection”) Taoism. The present statue was a 2002 gift from Zhi Nan’s “home temple,” Yongle Temple in Shanxi province.

Facing the Chunyang Chapel, to the left is the Lingxiao Chapel (built 1963-1966). The main deities are the Jade Emperor (on the top floor) and the Three Pure Ones (on the ground floor). Below these may be found the classrooms and offices of the China Taoism Institute, a Quanzhen seminary granting 2-year BA and MA degrees in Taoism.

Taoist nuns chanting on the ground floor in front of the Three Pure Ones.

Taoist priests chanting on the second floor. Above them is the Jade Emperor.

To the right of the Chunyang Chapel is the Buddhist-themed Daxiong Chapel (built 1973). A black statue of Sakyamuni Buddha was the gift of a Thai military officer who, while exiled to Taiwan, vowed to donate such a statue in the event that he returned to power.

Failed to find the Dacheng Chapel, dedicated to Confucius, I walked down along the stairway.

Fude shrine is the first building came into my view. It looks very ancient.

Zhi Nan Bridge is right in front of the shrine.

You can easily spot some fresh water turtles, fish and birds at the pond.

Along the stairway, you can also see many stone statues donated by temple followers.

I took a bus 706 to Sanxia from Wanhua, Taipei City. You can wait for the bus near Longshan Temple MRT station. Bus routes 702,703,705,910,916 also connect Sanxia with Taipei City or Taipei MRT.

Here’s a map of Sanxia Township:

Click thumbnail to enlarge.

The first site I saw was Sanxia River and Sanxia Bridge.

Sanxia Bridge was built during the Japanese Colonial Era. It has become a symbol of Sanxia.

Most people come to Sanxia to see Zushi Temple which is the most important religious site in Sanxia. Originally built in 1769 by Fujianese immigrants to Taiwan, it has been rebuilt three times, of which the last effort (beginning 1947) is the masterpiece of renown Taiwanese artist Li Meishu. It is considered by many to be the most intricately sculpted temple in Taiwan.

There are many shops in front of Zushi Temple. One shop that sells winter melon tea is particular popular.

The one that intrigued me was a pickle shop. You can try many different kinds of pickles and fermented tofu for free and they are delicious. If you don’t know what fermented tofu is, just think of cheese. But it’s better to just try it.

Sanxia Historical Relic Hall is on a street nearby which preserves artistic and cultural artifacts from Sanxia’s past. Many of the artifacts are related to Mr. Li Meishu.

Minquan Old Street is also just a stone’s throw away from Zushi Temple. A business street built during the Japanese rule, it is a very well-preserved example of Japanese colonial architecture of the time. The street features stores selling art, ceramics, and local specialty foods (most notably Bull Horn Croissants).

The whole Mingquan street area was burnt down by the Japanese at the beginning of Japanese occupation in 1895. Xinglong Temple, which was the secret headquarters of anti-Japanese movement, didn’t survive. Local Chinese started to rebuild the temple in 1905.

Just outside Xinglong Temple, I saw some local people playing a game called Tuo Luo which seemed very hard to play. One needs to throw the small object called tuoluo with a thread to the top of a upside down beer bottle and let it swirl. One bottle was set up much high above others and made it even more difficult to conquer.

The Moon Represents My Heart by Teresa Teng:

Teresa Teng was buried in a mountainside tomb at Jin Bao Shan, a cemetery in Jinshan, Taipei County, Taiwan. In order to get there, I need to get to Jinshan township first by bus.

Two bus companies run routes from Taipei City to Jinshan: King Bus (via Keelung) and Royal Bus (via Yang Ming Shan Mountain). I went with King Bus which has a stop at Lianhe (United) Newspaper bus stop near City Hall metro station.

You can get off at Jinshan Post Office where Ci Hu Temple, the largest temple in Jinshan, is just a stone’s throw away. Ci Hu temple’s main deity is Golden Face Mazu.

Ci Hu Temple is also the south end of Jin Bao Li Old Street. There are many shops along the street. Jinshan is famous for sweet potatoes. So I ate a lot there.

When you reach the north end of Jin Bao Li Old Street, turn left to a major intersection of Zhong Zheng Road and Zhong Shan Road. Walk to the other side of Zhong Shan Road and that’s where I waited for the free shuttle bus(van actually) to Juming Museum up in the mountain of Jin Bao Shan.

Free Shuttle to Juming Museum:

Juming Museum:

I then walked uphill from Juming Museum parking lot to Teresa Teng Memorial Park following road signs. It took me approximately 15 minutes to reach the cemetery (including time to take photos).
View on the road to the park:

There were several large tourist groups from mainland China as well as several Taiwanese families went to visit Teresa Teng’s tomb during my time of visit. Some people offered flowers, many people played the giant “piano” at the park. I think she’s not lonely there.

The park and a great view of Jinshan and the north coast of Taiwan. Jin Bao Shan cemetery itself is very pretty too. This is a great location.

Since 1990s, Jioufen experienced a tourist boom that has shaped the town as a tourist attraction thank to the movie A City of Sadness and a Japanese anime movie Spirited Away. Now Jiufen has become one of the top tourist attractions among Japanese tourists.

Get In

By Train

Take a train to Ruifang Train Station, Hop on one of the buses to Jiufen in front of the train station.

By Bus

Take a bus from near Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station in Taipei City to Jiufen

Get Around

There are two major streets that are full of stores, restaurants and attractions.

Ji Shan Jie

Stores and restaurants.

Shu Qi Lu

Tea shops.

Fun

Sheng Ping Xi Yuan:
This deserted place tops many people’s must-see list because it is the first movie theatre in Taiwan.

Ghost Mask Museum:
If you are bold enough, you can pay 50 TWD($30 for students) to get into the dark room. (Photo-taken allowed)

Hiking:
There are two hiking routes you can take and both are quite challenging.

Retro Deco:
There is a retro-style museum allow tourists to take photos on Shu Qi Lu near A Gan Yi Yu-Yuan.

Temples

Fu Shan Gong

Fu Shan Gong is the most famous temple in Jiufen because it has a long history and some interesting stories.

When the village boomed into a town, people wanted to rebuilt the original small temple for the Tu Di Gong god. But Tu Di Gong didn’t agree and rejected their requests three times. So people built a new temple surrounding the old one which became a temple inside a temple.

When locals rebuilt the temple, they didn’t even forget to offer Tu Di Gong pretty girls – nude girls.

Food

Lai A Po Yu-Yuan (Taro Sweets):

A Gan Yi Yu-Yuan (Taro Sweets):

Meat Dumpling(Rou Yuan, Ba Wan):
Pork inside, sticky rice(mochi) outside

Unbeatable Sausage:
1 for 35 TWD, 3 for 100 TWD

Gold Miner’s Bento lunch, 60 TWD:

This year’s flower season starts on Feb 27 and run until March 23. More than 2,000 cherry trees and about 80,000 azalea plants will blossom during the festival.

During the festival, a photo exhibition featuring Yangmingshan’s scenery will be held at Yangmingshan National Park’s Guangfu Building. There will also be martial arts and lion dance performances, concerts, puppet shows and Chinese painting.

Trails:

The Yangmingshan National Park trail system is mainly located within the park and it stretches through Dingshan, Shihtiling, east peak, the main peak of Chixingshan, the main peak, south peak and west peak of Datunshan, Miantianshan and Xiangtianshan among others. Datunshan is the No. 2 volcano area in China after Changbai Mountain in northeast China. Enriched by Andesite, its conic or hell-shaped volcano body, crater and volcano lakes provide a unique geological terrain in the area. Hot springs and eruptions are main found in the Jinshan Fault between Beitou and Jinshan. In the area, strong steam jets are common in the large and small oil pits, Maca and Dahuangzui.

In the area, there are as many as 1,200 plant species, some with odd types of capillary structures. The fauna and flora species total 18 mammals, 110 birds, 21 amphibians, over 40 reptiles and some 160 butterflies.

Maps are abundant in the park

Trail

Yangming Park

Yangming Park is the main site to host Yangmingshan Flower Season festival. Once you get off the bus, just follow the crowds and you will get to the park in half an hour or so.

A waterfall on the road to Yangming Park

2010 Yangmingshan Flower Season

Flower Clock

Yangming Park

Line up here and wait for a bus back to Taipei

Zhongshan Building

Zhongshan Building is part of Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall complex. The building is placed on the reverse of the 100 New Taiwan Dollar bill. The building serves as a location for hosting ceremonies by the President of the Republic of China for state visits and conferences and was off limits to the general public until 2005.

In 1965, with a view to commemorate Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s centennial birthday and to revive traditional Chinese culture, the government of the Republic of China appointed architect Ms. Xiu Zelan to design the Zhongshan Building. Thousands of military veterans finished this construction within 13 months. Zhongshan Building once served as an exclusive convention site for the defunct National Assembly of the Republic of China, and an eminent locale for the state head’s receiving distinguished foreign guests or hosting state banquets. Up to present, the hall still preserves many important scenes that witnessed constitutional development and historical events in the Republic of China. The government has designated the Zhongshan Building as a historical monument.

Paifang in front of the building

Zhongshan Building

Front door

Ground floor lobby

Meeting Room on the ground floor

Grand Hall

Dining Hall on the third floor

Reception Hall on the second floor

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