Longshan Temple

Longshan Temple, located in Wanhua District on the outskirt of Taipei, was built in 1738 by settlers from Fujian, China. In early days, the temple served as a place of worship and a gathering place for the settlers. Like most temples in Taiwan, the Temple worships a mixture of Buddhist, Taoist, and traditional deities such as Buddha, Goddess of Mercy and Matsu. Parts of the temple were destroyed by numerous earthquakes and fires. In the spring of 1945, it was even hit by American bombers who claimed the Japanese were hiding armaments inside. Taipei residents have reconstructed and renovated the temple many times. It has long been regarded as one of the most symbolic examples of Taiwanese classical architecture, and is a famous tourist attraction.