Welcoming the Spring with Blessings in New Taipei: Lucky and Auspicious Dragon Tour
New Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau Press Release 113.02.10
Welcoming the Spring with Blessings in New Taipei: Lucky and Auspicious Dragon Tour
[New Taipei City] At the beginning of the new year, as spring blossoms, the New Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau invites people to visit temples in New Taipei for spring tours. Whether seeking good fortune and prosperity or seeking peace of mind, through visiting the diverse temples in New Taipei, one can experience the traditional culture of blessings and visit nearby attractions to pray for auspiciousness and peace, stepping into the hopeful Year of the Dragon.
To start the Year of the Dragon with good luck, one must visit the "Zhonghe Henglu Di Nanshan Fude Temple," a popular destination for fortune-seeking worshippers in northern Taiwan. The temple not only enshrines the largest statue of the God of Fortune in Taiwan but also features a distinctive element: a shining "Big Yuan Bao" (a large gold ingot) in the hands of the Earth Deity. Believers deeply believe that touching the ingot can bring prosperity throughout the year. After paying respects, don't miss out on the Lehua Night Market, where delicacies like oyster omelets, sweet potato balls, spicy stinky tofu, and crispy pork ribs will satisfy even the pickiest eaters. The "Wulu Caishen Temple" in Shiding is also always bustling with worshippers seeking wealth and blessings. The temple enshrines five wealth gods, including Wu Caishen Zhao Gongming, the Wealth Beckoning Messenger, the Treasure-Bringing Celestial Being, the Wealth-Inviting Celestial Being, and the Prosperous Market Deity, allowing worshippers seeking fortune or prosperity to find solace. Decorations featuring the yuan bao motif symbolize abundant wealth, making the temple especially prosperous. Aside from praying for blessings, visitors can also stroll through the Shiding Old Street and savor local tofu dishes.
With its long history and thriving incense, the Zhulin Mountain Guanyin Temple boasts a magnificent appearance resembling a Chinese palace. It enshrines the Guanyin Bodhisattva with eighteen arms and is the religious center for residents of Linkou, Taoyuan's Luzhu, and Guishan. The temple's architecture preserves the essence of Taiwanese folk art, with intricately carved beams and pillars and a main hall adorned with gold-leafed coffered ceilings, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. In addition to admiring the beauty of the architecture, every spring, cherry blossoms and azaleas bloom profusely, complementing the Japanese-style stone lanterns and guardian lions in the garden. Besides enjoying the charm of a Japanese-style garden without leaving the country, visitors can also experience the sacredness of religion.
For those yearning for tranquility amidst the mountains, consider visiting Dharma Drum Mountain in Jinshan District, New Taipei City during the Lunar New Year holiday to experience the beauty of Buddhist culture and nature; or visit Lingjiou Mountain Wusheng Monastery located in the northeast corner, surrounded by the sea on three sides, with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Accompanied by mountain breezes, sea views, and misty clouds, visitors can admire unique attractions such as the Heavenly Eye Gate, the Four Sacred Mountains Monastery, and the Eleven-faced Guanyin, enjoying the comfort and tranquility of walking in the mountains.
The New Taipei City Government invites families to visit temples and nearby attractions in New Taipei for spring tours, not only to pray for blessings in the new year and to seek auspiciousness and prosperity under the theme "Lucky and Auspicious Dragon Tour," but also to find peace of mind and happiness. For more information about New Taipei attractions, please visit the relevant link.
