Taiwan

Taiwan: Center-West (2009, 2010, 2015, 2016)

For photos of Taichung click here.

Changhua (2016):

Confucius temple (first erected in 1726):

- First gate.

- Second gate and the two moon gates on its sides.

- Main hall.

Large Buddha statue (Da Fo Xiang) erected on Baguashan, a small hill overlooking Changhua, a major local attraction on weekends.

Lukang (2016):

First four photos below: Houses along Old Market Street. Photo on the right in the second row: Banbian well. (This well was dug so that half of it is inside the residence and the other half outside to make its water accessible to passersby. It is no longer in use.)

Beautifully renovated Din Family Old House:

- Entrance of first hall. (Note the panels on the walls on both sides of the door.)

- Second hall.

- Inner courtyards.

- Decorative panels on both sides of the entrance door of the first hall.

Longshan temple (Buddhist) dating from the Qing dynasty.

- First gate.

- Second gate.

- One of the chiseled windows of the second gate.

- Central ceiling in the hall behind the second gate.

- Temple guardians painted on the doors of the second gate.

- Local musicians playing in the hall behind the second gate, in front of the main hall.

- Left: Roof of the main hall. Right: View through an octagonal door on the side of the main hall (toward the second gate).

- Wood carvings in the main hall.

- Ceiling of the main hall.

Zhongshan Road leading to Lukang′s Matsu temple, on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Matsu temple:

- Celebration day.

- Roofs of the temple.

- Inside the temple.

(2009, 2015) Puli (Nantou County):

Matsu temple.

Confucius temple.

Wall of wine jugs in the Puli Wine Museum and Factory.

Mi Le Fo (laughing reincarnation of Buddha) in the entrance hall of the gigantic Chung Tai Chan Monastery near Puli, Nantou County.

(2016) Sun Moon Lake:

Sun Moon Lake is the largest lake in Taiwan. It is one of the most popular destinations in Taiwan, including for romantic weddings. Unfortunately, it is over-developed.

Floating islands of aquatic plants planted on soil-covered bamboo rafts. They clean water and protect the shores against erosion.

The opulent Wenwu temple overlooking the lake. It consists of three main halls over three levels dedicated to the First Ancestor Kaiji and the God of Literature (first level), to Guan Gong, the God of War (second level), and to Confucius (top level).