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.
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