Taoyuan & Hsinchu Travel: Buddha's World - Exploring the Abandoned Theme Park in Taiwan

Buddha's World (佛陀世界)

A fairy tale castle in the mountains? Buddha's World (佛陀世界) is an abandoned theme park laying in Taoyuan & Hsinchu counties. The place is now used for Buddhist practices and is open to visitors only on weekends from 9 am to 3 pm. The entrance is completely free.

The theme park, originally named Fairy Tale Land (童話世界), opened over forty years ago. It was eventually forced out of business by the local government a few decades ago due to environmental issues concerning water conservation in the Shihmen Reservoir.

Later, the place was purchased by a Buddhist sect with plans to develop it into a Buddhist theme park for tourists. However, the same environmental concerns prevented any construction from taking place.

The ruins of the Fairy Tale Castle are the main attraction here. The building appears destroyed and overgrown with trees but still provides a good backdrop for pictures.

Unfortunately, it has started to rain. We have only been here for half an hour and now we have to head back home. It's a pity because our place is an hour's drive from here, but we can't stay in the mountains for too long.

Address:

306新竹縣關西鎮23號佛陀世界-金剛

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Hsinchu Travel: Nature Loving Wonderland

Nature Loving Wonderland (大自然文化世界)

Today, we visited the Nature Loving Wonderland, which includes the Maitreya Buddhist Temple and the Maitreya Bronze Statue. It is located near Dapu Reservoir in Emei Township, Hsinchu.

Emei was previously known as YueMei, named after the half-moon alluvial river stage of the Emei River. During the Japanese period, the name was changed to Emei in 1904, and it has remained the same since then. Emei is a relatively recent development in the history of Hsinchu. The first Han people settled in this area during the Qing Dynasty in 1834. Emei, along with Beipu and Baoshan, were originally inhabited by the Saisiya aboriginal group. After battles with the aboriginal people, Han settlers formed communities in various places.

The population of Emei consists mainly of Hakka people, accounting for 95% of the total population. It has the third-highest proportion of Hakka people in Taiwan, after Sanwan and Touwu Townships in Miaoli. Although it is a mountainous township in Hsinchu, the hills here are all below 500 meters in elevation.

The Maitreya Buddhist Temple was established in 1987 by Wang Haode in memory of his mother. The initial temple was built in the Hsinchu Science Park area. Simultaneously, Wang Haode purchased land in Huguang Village, Emei, to construct the temple. In 2000, the Maitreya Avenue General Association was established, and the temple was relocated to Emei. In 2001, it was officially recognized as a religion by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. By 2011, it had attracted 3,000 believers from around the world.

Before entering the temple, we were informed about the rules. First, we received a stamp on our hands. I was wearing shorts, which are prohibited, but they provided napkins to cover my legs. Bringing food or chewing gum is not allowed inside. The temple is adorned with numerous Buddha sculptures, many of which are made of wood. However, taking pictures inside is prohibited due to copyright issues, and volunteers are present to ensure compliance. To maintain cleanliness, visitors are required to wear shoe covers. Additionally, visitors are expected to speak silently and silence their phones, which are checked before entry. Admission to the temple is free, but if you plan to visit on a weekday, an appointment is necessary.

The Maitreya Buddha Sculpture is open for visitors to explore. On the 5th floor, you can walk outside and enjoy the view. This is the only area where photography is permitted. The Maitreya Buddha statue was constructed in 2002 and stands 72 meters tall. From there, you can also catch a glimpse of Dapu Reservoir, also known as Emei Lake. The reservoir was built between 1956 and 1960 and began supplying water mainly to Xiangshan and Baoshan in 1961. There used to be five suspension bridges, but only one remains today.

Address:

315新竹縣峨眉鄉快樂路1號大自然文化世界

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Houlong Cape of Good Hope: Discovering the Beauty of Miaoli

Houlong Cape of Good Hope (後龍好望角風景區)

Early in the morning, we had to pick up my sister-in-law in Miaoli. It was still before noon when we could head back home, but since we were already there, we decided to visit some places.

We drove to Houlong Cape of Good Hope, which is currently a popular destination with many people walking around. The view was really nice, especially with the windmills dotting the landscape. The weather today created a beautiful blend of the sky and the sea.

I particularly enjoyed the sight of the large grass blossoms. They always make me feel closer to nature and the wild.

From there, we drove closer to the sea. Unfortunately, the beach wasn't in good condition, with lots of rubbish scattered around. That might be why I didn't see any other people there. However, I still wanted to find a nice, clean beach with a picturesque sea view for my pictures.

On the way, we also came across a massive stone wall with numerous shells embedded in it. It made me imagine how the water used to reach that point and how much smaller Taiwan must have been in the past.

Lastly, I was lucky to take a picture of a train passing by without having to wait. The train rail crossing over the mouth of the sea added an interesting element to the photo.

Zhunan Houcuo Longfeng Temple (竹南后厝龍鳳宫)

Another time, we also visited the Zhunan Great Mazu Temple. Unfortunately, there was a celebration taking place with lots of people setting off firecrackers, so I only managed to take pictures of the temple from the outside.

Address:

1. Houlong Cape of Good Hope: 356苗栗縣後龍鎮後龍好望角風景區
2. Zhunan Mazu Temple: 350苗栗縣竹南鎮龍安街69號竹南后厝龍鳳宫

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Longteng Broken Bridge ~ Miaoli's Historic Landmark

Longteng Bridge (龍騰斷橋)

Today, we explored Miaoli and visited historic buildings. One of the interesting stops was the remains of the Longteng Bridge (龍騰斷橋), also known as Yutengping Bridge (魚藤坪斷橋). Although it was just a quick stop, the bridge remains were quite fascinating. Many people only stop near the road to take pictures and then continue on their way. There are a few parking spaces available, but they require a fee. If we had known, we could have simply parked on the road later, instead of paying the 50 NTD.

Construction of the Longteng Bridge began at the end of April 1906 and was completed in June 1907. It is a mixed bridge consisting of arch bridges, steel truss bridges, and truss bridges. The bridge was constructed using brick blocks mixed with glutinous rice, and it was considered a masterpiece of Taiwan's Railway History.

Unfortunately, during the Hsinchu-Taichung earthquake in 1935, the bridge collapsed, along with other tunnels, bridges, and railroad tracks in the area. The remains of the Yutengping Bridge serve as a reminder of two of the deadliest earthquakes in Taiwan's history.

From March to May, many places in Miaoli are covered with white flowers when the tung trees blossom, making it a popular season for visitors to come and see the bridge.

There is also a road that leads up the hill to get a better view of the bridge, but the area is overgrown with bushes, which obstructs the view.

Near the bridge, there is a pathway that leads to the river. Although I didn't go there, I noticed that most people ignored this path, but I can't say whether it's not interesting or if it's simply due to people's laziness.

A new bridge was constructed on the right side next to the remains of the Longteng Bridge. It was completed in 1938 and was originally built to transport building materials. The bridge is no longer in use, but along with the nearby Shengxing Station, it has become a tourist attraction. Since 2010, the mountain lane has been opened on special occasions.

 

Address:

367苗栗縣三義鄉苗49鄉道龍騰斷橋

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Miaoli Travel: Chateau in the air

Chateau In The Air (天空之城景觀餐廳)

Chateau in the Air is a castle-like restaurant located in the hills of Miaoli. The entrance fee is 200 NTD. There are two restaurants at the location, but the one that caught my attention was the more interesting one. It offers the opportunity to enjoy your meal in a natural setting while also having a view of a beautiful lake reservoir nearby.

Both restaurants are situated on different levels, and if you climb higher, you can also see a small church. This place attracts many tourists. Unfortunately, we parked our car in a higher place, so we had to walk down quite a bit to reach the restaurant.

The water in the reservoir looks stunning, and I'm looking forward to getting a closer look at this place.

Li-yu Tan Reservoir is a very peaceful location. Parking is free, and you can take a walk in the park near the lake or simply enjoy the view from a higher vantage point. There weren't many people around, and there was only one stall where you could buy drinks. The dam was constructed in 1985 but was opened to the public at the end of 1992.

  

Address:

364苗栗縣大湖鄉33號天空之城景觀餐廳

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