Taidong - Sanxiantai
Taiwan's Aboriginal Culture
Hualien - Taroko Gorge
Taiwan's Wildlife
Beautiful Mountains
Breathtaking Sea View
Amazing Nature
Traditional Markets and Food

February 25, 2019

Hsinchu Travel: Red Maple and the Lingyin Temple of Hsinchu

By Żaneta Hsu February 25, 2019 // No comments

It's nearly Lunar New Year, but we are still in Hsinchu. Today, we wanted to go to the mountains, but before noon, it looked very cloudy and a little bit cold to drive a scooter for over an hour. After breakfast, we went to Hsinchu Park to check the cherry blossoms there. Not many of them were in bloom, usually just a few single flowers on the trees, except for two trees that had more blossoms. A few cherry trees also bloomed last autumn. After that, we decided to visit Green Grass Lake.

Lingyin Temple (青草湖靈隱寺)

Nearby Green Grass Lake you can also find an old temple with a huge garden. The Lingyin Temple was built in 1924 by Zheng Baozheng and Weng Miao. The probation hall was built to sacrifice Zhuge Kongming. In the early days, there were very few pilgrims, so they thought that worshiping Kongming would attract more people.

In the northeast of Sensation Hall, the Linggu Tower was built. In 1927, Zheng Baozheng decided to expand the project. The temple was built in 1932, and at that time, the Guanyin Bodhisattva was brought here. The temple was named Lingyin Temple.

In later times, the people in charge of the temple's finances spent a lot of money, which resulted in the temple's decline. Zheng Jiazi took over the management and helped the temple get back on track. The temple has Western-style architecture and decorations. The hall dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva was built in Baroque style. There are three buildings and a few towers, including tombs.

Not many people go there, but if you like maple trees, it's a nice place to see them.

After the walk, we also went to Green Grass Lake to see the new park. This lake is the oldest scenic spot in Hsinchu, originally built as a dam in 1956. In 1987, the government turned it into a recreational area. Only a part of the park is finished, and the lake looks very dry now. There were no people around, so we took a rest there. On our way to the lake, we also noticed a pink trumpet tree in bloom! The tree was completely covered with flowers, which looked really beautiful. We also saw some maple trees on the way and around the lake, as well as a few cherry trees.

See also: Hsinchu Park Cherry Blossom

maple trees, Lingyin Temple, hsinchu, taiwan

Address:

Lingyin Temple: 300新竹市東區明湖路1135號青草湖靈隱寺

Illuminating Traditions: Lantern Festival Celebrations Across Taiwan

By Żaneta Hsu February 19, 2019 // 2 comments

It's the second time I have the chance to see the Lantern Festival. A year ago, we went to the Chiayi Lantern Festival, and during the Mid-Autumn Festival, I had the opportunity to see Sky Lanterns. Both celebrations take place on the 15th day of the first lunar month. In my previous posts, I wrote about the traditions of the Lantern Festival and the legend of sky lanterns. Check them out if you want to know more!

The first Lantern Festival was held in 1990. The Tourism Bureau decided to organize a major lantern festival together with the Sky Lantern Festival and the Yanshui Firework Festival, which are very old customs. The festival originally took place at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei. Now it is known and celebrated all around the island. But that's not the only form of celebrating this day. Other well-known events on this day include the Sky Lantern Festival in Pingxi, the Yanshui Firework Festival in Tainan, and the Bombing Master Handan Festival in Taitung.

Hsinchu East Gate

Xiluo Bridge

How Lantern Festival is celebrated around Taiwan?

One of the special celebrations is the Yanshui Firework Festival in Tainan, which includes a firecrackers ceremony. Every year, a man and a woman wearing helmets stand in the middle of several structures loaded with fireworks that are then set off. This celebration is believed to be a way of thanking Guan Gong, who rescued this place from a plague in the 19th century. This festival is very dangerous, and I have never been there yet.

Another similar celebration is held in Taitung, called the Bombing Master Handan Festival. This festival has been celebrated since 1954. Every year, one volunteer represents the local God of wealth, Master Han Dan. This volunteer, wearing only red shorts, a scarf, and goggles, stands in the middle of the crowd while people throw firecrackers at him.

Another festival during this day is a Hakka tradition called the Bombing the Dancing Dragon Festival. The festival is held to welcome spring and bring good luck. Several people wear a dragon costume and move up and down. The crowd throws fireworks at the dancing dragon to ask for blessings and pray for fortune. The more explosive the dance and the more the dragon gets hit by fireworks, the more luck and prosperity for those who participate. The dragon is built using bamboo frames and covered with fabric in the colors of red, green, blue, silver, and gold, which represent the five elements in nature according to Taoism.

The Sky Lantern Festival in Pingxi is named the second biggest New Year's Eve festival in the world. The festival lasts about two weeks and is always held on the 15th day of the first lunar month as part of the Lantern Festival. Pingxi is the only place where the release of sky lanterns is allowed by the government. Sky lanterns, also known as Kongming lanterns, were invented by Zhuge Liang and were originally used to convey military messages.

Yunlin Travel: We Accidentally Met President Tsai at Beigang Chaotian Temple

By Żaneta Hsu February 13, 2019 // No comments

Today, we visited Beigang and were greeted by a large crowd of people. There were long lines stretching from the temple to the bridge at the end of Old Street. We learned that President Tsai Ing-wen would be coming here, so we decided to wait for a while. We caught a glimpse of the president for just a few seconds, and I felt really excited. We were even lucky enough to receive a commemorative coin!

Beigang Chaotian Temple (北港朝天宮)

The Chaotian Temple in Beigang was built in 1700 to honor the sea-goddess Mazu. It is one of the most important temples in Taiwan and holds great significance. Beigang was a significant port in the 17th century.

In 1694, the statue of Mazu was brought from Fujian, China, to Beigang. In 1700, Chen Li-Shum donated a piece of land and raised funds to build the Chaotian Temple. The temple underwent several expansions, with the first one taking place in 1730. However, even that expansion was not enough. Another project began in 1773, and in 1854, the temple was expanded into a palace-like architectural complex.

The temple has undergone several renovations throughout its history. In 1894, a fire damaged the front hall, and in 1904 and 1906, earthquakes had an impact on the building. The temple was reconstructed in 1907, and the project was completed in 1912. From 1963 to 1972, the Golden Furnace, Bell, and Drum Tower were newly constructed, and the main hall was raised from 6 to 15 meters. The demolished parts of the wooden structure are also preserved within the temple.

Between 1918 and 1922, the surrounding roads were widened, and the walls surrounding the temple and the urban area were reconstructed. From 1937 to 1940, burning gold paper was forbidden, and the Gold Furnace was demolished. Some of the temple statues were burnt or kept in private collections. The only remaining gods were Mazu and Wu Wenchang. The statue of Mazu is placed on top of the building. The temple worships many other gods, including Heavenly Mother, Goddess of Mercy, Heavenly Emperors, Wenchang God, Goddess of Childgiving, Land God, and Mazu's parents.

Nearby the temple, there is Beigang Old Street, where you can find a variety of delicious street food. In Beigang, you can also see some old buildings, an old water tower, and the bridge at the end of Old Street, which connects Yunlin County with Chiayi County.

See also: Lunar New Year in Taiwan

Beigang Chaotian Temple 北港朝天宮, yunlin, taiwan

Address:

651雲林縣北港鎮中山路178號北港朝天宮

Celebrating Tradition: The Lunar New Year Festivities in Taiwan

By Żaneta Hsu February 05, 2019 // No comments

lunar new year decorations, xiluo, yunlin, taiwan

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, does not have a fixed date and is usually celebrated at the end of January or the beginning of February, according to the Lunar Calendar. In Taiwan, the country follows the Gregorian Calendar officially, but traditional holidays are still celebrated based on the Lunar Calendar.

The Chinese New Year starts on January 1 and lasts until the 15th, which is known as the Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with a zodiac animal. This year, according to the Minguo calendar used in Taiwan, is the Year of the Pig. The zodiac cycle repeats every 12 years, and each lunar cycle completes a 60-year cycle. It is believed to be unlucky to celebrate your zodiac year.

Traditionally, Lunar New Year was a time for praying to the gods for a good planting and harvesting season. People also pray to their ancestors, and many older people have a separate room dedicated to the gods, where they offer food and prayers. On Chinese New Year's Eve, firecrackers are set off to scare away monsters and bad luck. People also burn fake paper money and printed gold bars to honor their ancestors.

Sycee, also known as yuanbao, was a type of silver or gold currency used during the Qing Dynasty. They were not standardized by a central bank, so they came in various shapes and sizes. The most common shapes were square or oval, but there were also ones shaped like boats, flowers, or tortoises. Today, sycee is a symbol of wealth and prosperity and is commonly used during the Lunar New Year.

One important god during this time is the Door God. People often hang paintings of this god on their front doors. Door Gods typically have fierce and forceful appearances because they are meant to protect the family from demons. Some people also hang auspicious phrases or poetry on the left side, right side, and above the door. Another form of decoration is the word "fortune" pasted on doors or windows.

During this holiday, people exchange gifts, and children usually receive lucky money in red envelopes. Special foods are also prepared, such as tangyuan (sticky rice balls cooked in sweet soup), nian gao (sticky rice cake), and fa gao (a cake made of rice flour and steamed).

Traditionally, people clean their homes before the Chinese New Year and prepare food so that they don't have to do any work during the holidays. Sweeping and using knives or scissors is considered bad luck during this time, and cutting hair during the holiday period is believed to snip away good fortune. Houses are decorated with red, which symbolizes good luck, while white, associated with funerals, is avoided.

In Chinese culture, families gather to have dinner together on Lunar New Year's Eve, which is considered the most important meal of the year. After dinner, children receive red envelopes with money. The New Year usually begins with the sound of firecrackers, and on the second day, married daughters return to their parents' home with their husbands and children. In the past, there used to be various celebrations each day leading up to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day.

See also: Lantern Festival

lunar new year decorations, yunlin, taiwan

New Taipei Travel: Cherry Blossom at Wuji TianYuan Temple

By Żaneta Hsu February 01, 2019 // 2 comments

Travel Date: 2019/ 01/27

Taiwanese people have a strong love for flowers, and each season brings different blossoms that attract numerous tourists. During my nearly two years in Taiwan, I have visited various flower farms and witnessed beautiful cherry blossoms in Nantou last year. I have always dreamed of seeing the cherry blossoms in Alishan and Yangmingshan, which are renowned for their beauty. Perhaps next year, as I will be moving to South Taiwan in a few months.

Wuji TianYuan Temple (天元宮)

One popular place to see cherry blossoms in the north of Taiwan is Wuji TianYuan Temple. Even though it's the end of January and only 20% of the cherry blossoms are in bloom, we still visited the temple. All of the cherry blossoms are in the garden behind the temple, unfortunately not in front. Wuji Tianyuan Temple is a Taoist Temple located in Tamsui, New Taipei. Its construction began in 1972, and the basic structure was completed in less than 60 days. The temple was fully finished in 1985.

The most popular part of Wuji Tianyuan Temple is the Jen-Yuan Tiantan, which was built in 1992. It is a unique structure in Taiwan and is named Tiantan because its outline resembles the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The temple stands 200 meters high, and the diameter of the circular building is 108 meters. Each of the five floors is dedicated to different Taoist gods. The temple is open all year round, but the highest influx of visitors occurs during the sakura blossom season.

The temple gained fame because of its cherry blossoms, which were planted in the 1970s by hundreds of volunteers. The main variety of trees planted here is the Yoshino Sakura, native to Japan. Visitors can see two different types of cherry blossoms with pink and white flowers, as well as Taiwanese cherries with a deep pink color.

The blooming season for Japanese sakura is short, lasting only about a month. However, from January to April, you can witness the blooming of Taiwanese cherry blossoms. The popularity of sakura in Taiwan dates back to the Japanese occupation when Japanese people brought different varieties of cherry trees and planted them across Taiwan.

During the cherry blossom season, traffic is controlled, and vehicles are prohibited from entering the area. Shuttle buses are available from parking areas to transport visitors to the temple. Currently, there are still plenty of parking spaces available, and there are very few people visiting the temple.