Formosa Guide: Longshan Temple (龍山寺)

The Longshan Temple (also Lungshan Temple) is one of Taipei's oldest and probably its most famous temple. However, like Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum, many visitors find it to be one of Taipei's most disappointing sights, because its popularity as a tourist attraction often makes it feel more like a tourist attraction than a religious institution.

But behind the crowds of tourists taking selfies in the courtyard are the authentic, chaotic rituals of Taoist life, including a constant stream of worshippers coming to bai bai (bow in front of a god and make a burnt offering of incense) and various divination procedures. The best time to visit is during the early morning and at dusk, when the temple is at its busiest with worshippers coming before or after work. The principle Diety is Guanyin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, but it's also home to over a hundred other Buddhist and Taoist deities.

The Longshan Temple first built by settlers from Fujian (Southern China) in 1738, but has been rebuilt several times. It was bombed heavily during WWII, as the Allies believed that the Japanese government Taiwan were hiding armaments inside it.