Longshan Temple (Mengjia Longshan Temple) is the most famous temple in Taipei and one of the busiest, a place where incense smoke, chanting and offerings of fruit and flowers fill the courtyards from early morning until night. It is free to enter, sits right beside an MRT station in the old Wanhua district, and gives a real sense of how religion is woven into daily life in Taiwan. A visit to Longshan Temple takes under an hour but stays with you.
What Longshan Temple is and why it matters
Settlers from Fujian in mainland China founded the temple in 1738 and dedicated it to Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion. Over the centuries it has been rebuilt many times after earthquakes, fires and storms. During the Second World War the main hall was hit in an air raid, and the story that the statue of Guanyin survived unharmed is still told with pride.
Although Guanyin is the main figure, the temple mixes Buddhist and folk traditions. Halls at the back honour dozens of deities, including Mazu, goddess of the sea, Wenchang, patron of scholars and exams, and Yue Lao, the old man under the moon who looks after matchmaking. Locals come with very specific prayers, from passing an exam to finding a partner.
Getting to Longshan Temple by MRT
The nearest station is Longshan Temple on the Blue Line (Bannan Line). The temple is directly across a small park from the station, about a two-minute walk, so you can hardly miss it. From Taipei Main Station it is only two stops west, which makes it an easy addition to any day in the city centre.
The area around the station is one of Taipei's oldest districts, and the streets are worth a slow walk after your temple visit.
Is there an entry fee for Longshan Temple?
No. Longshan Temple is free to enter and open from early morning into the evening every day. Donations are welcome, and incense and offerings are available inside. Hours can change around festivals, so check the temple's official website if you are planning an early or late visit.
Temple etiquette
Longshan is an active place of worship, so a few courtesies go a long way:
- Enter through the right-hand door and leave by the left, following the traditional flow; the central door is reserved for the gods.
- Do not step on the raised thresholds of doorways.
- Keep voices low, and avoid photographing people at prayer up close.
- Do not point at the deity statues, and move aside for worshippers.
Best time to visit Longshan Temple
Morning, especially around the early chanting sessions, is when the temple is most atmospheric and you will see many regular worshippers. Evenings are also lovely, as the carved roofs are lit up and the night markets nearby come to life. During Lunar New Year and major festivals the temple is extremely crowded, with special lantern displays and long queues to pray. Allow 30 to 60 minutes.
Highlights inside the temple
The roofs and carvings
Look up at the ridgelines, covered with dragons, phoenixes and figures made from colourful cut-and-pasted ceramic. The stone and wood carvings around the halls are equally detailed.
The bronze dragon columns
The front hall has a pair of bronze columns wrapped in coiling dragons, a rare feature among Taiwanese temples.
The waterfall and front courtyard
An artificial waterfall and pond to the right of the entrance give a moment of calm before you walk into the incense.
Moon blocks and fortune sticks
You will see people dropping pairs of crescent-shaped wooden blocks on the floor. They ask a question, and the way the blocks land gives the answer: one flat side up and one round side up means yes. A yes can then lead to drawing a numbered fortune stick. Visitors are welcome to try, quietly and respectfully.
Nearby on the same stop
Wanhua, once called Monga, is where Taipei began as a riverside trading town. The Bopiliao Historic Block, a restored street of red-brick shophouses from the Qing and Japanese eras, is a short walk away and free to explore. Huaxi Street Night Market, a covered arcade known for its traditional snacks, opens in the evening near the temple. Herb Alley, a narrow lane of traditional medicinal herb stalls, runs along the side of the temple.
See what else is close by on the Longshan Temple page on Around the Metro, or explore more stations on the Taipei MRT map.