Travel Date: 2022/02/12
Mituo Temple (彌陀禪寺)
We took advantage of the last sunny day before the upcoming rain to go on a trip. On our way to Alishan, about 35 kilometers earlier, we stopped at a popular cherry blossom viewing spot called Mituo Temple (彌陀禪寺). We had visited here two years ago, around mid-March, and at that time, only the bright pink cherry trees were in bloom. However, coming here in February was even more beautiful, with plenty of dark pink flowers in full bloom.
We arrived before 10 AM, but there were already a lot of people. As we got closer to the temple, the traffic on the road increased. We parked about 1 kilometer downhill from the temple. The road was not very spacious, and the flow of cars from both sides made walking a bit challenging at times. Near the temple, we also noticed several Magnolia trees that were blooming heavily recently.
The crowd was quite substantial today. As a precaution against COVID-19, name registration and temperature screening were conducted at the entrance. When we initially drove on road 130, it was still open, although there were signs warning about traffic. However, when we drove back around noontime, the police had blocked the entrance to road 130 uphill.
This temple, built in 1752, houses the main shrine with a golden statue of the Mi Tuo Buddha. The Zen temple's roof is adorned with golden glazed tiles and dark brown beams and columns, creating a solemn atmosphere that sets it apart from ordinary temples. There is also a "Bazhangxi Yidu Monument" and a "Yimin Tower" within the temple grounds. The master of this temple, born on July 2, 1949, in Longtan, Neimen Township of Kaohsiung, is named Zhang. He had a close relationship with Sanbao and became a monk at Taoyuanshan Temple. After completing his studies at the Buddhist College, he focused on studying the three Tibetan scriptures and later resided in secluded mountains and hills.
To see the magnolia trees, there is only one path for entering and exiting. Surprisingly, very few people seemed interested in these flowers, and there was hardly anyone around. Personally, I find these flowers quite beautiful, and they are not commonly seen in Taiwan, especially in the south.
