Longshan Temple
A temple nearly 300 years old, at its most beautiful lit up at night
A fuller guide to this place, built from 6 sources, is written in Traditional Chinese.
Being there
Come at night when the roof is lit. Follow the grandmothers to learn the order of prayers, and cast the moon blocks with a question of your own.
The story
Settlers from Fujian built the temple in 1738 for the Guanyin they brought from home. Earthquakes, termites and war have all damaged it; when an air raid destroyed the main hall in 1945, the statue of Guanyin is said to have come through untouched, and people have believed in the place even more since. Inside, incense smoke, chanting, students praying for exams and elders praying for health all crowd together, as they have here for three centuries.
