culture & heritage
Manka, now Wanhua District, is the most valuable and important area with its old temples, old streets, academies, narrow gates and traditional industries that offer a diversity and variety of historical archives for research and study. In this district, a number of traditional industries such as Chinese Medicine stores, papery stores (selling paper products for the deceased, it is a rite for Chinese people to buy properties for the deceased.) Besides, you may also adventure in person the production of Buddhist sculptures and embroidery in various Buddhist products stores and embroidery pavilions on "Xindiantou Street", which boomed according to the set-up of various temples, a representation of thriving tourist industry of Longshan Temple.
Longshan Temple is a famous old temple in Taiwan. It is for worshiping Guanshiyin Budda and other divine spirits. Longshan Temple is facing the South. Its architecture is a three-section design in shape. There are the front hall, the rear hall and the right/left dragons protecting the middle hall. The layout is square and serene. The temple was built in Qianlong 5th year in Qing Dynasty. Due to natural disaster and damages caused by men, the temple was restored for several times. The doors, beams, and poles are beautifully decorated. There are a pair of bronze dragon poles in the front hall, four pairs of dragon poles in the middle hall. The sculptures are delicate. There are also exquisite wood sculptures. Among them, the well and Budda setting in the main hall are highly appreciated. The temple has many Chinese poems, verses and lyrics on signs. These add a touch of literature in addition to the religious and sightseeing value.
