Lugang Longshan Temple

The Longshan Temple in Lugang Township in central Taiwan's Changhua County is called the "Forbidden City in Taiwan". It is the best among the eight great scenes of Lugang as an important historical town in Taiwan. The temple is dedicated to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy.

The Longshan Temple was originally a small temple. It was later remodeled by local residents. The temple is seated facing the west, with its back to the east. The layout is square, and the main building consists of four strata and three gardens. In the old days, there were 99 doors in the temple.

The temple features exquisite religious wood carvings and fascinating colorful paintings. Local and international visitors are encouraged to closely observe all the details of the building. At the front gate is a pair of dragon poles made of granite. The design of an ascending dragon and an corresponding descending dragon is simple but powerful. Meanwhile, at the end of the front hall is a theater stage for traditional performances at religious and art festivals. The octagon well within the theater stage showcases colorful paintings and excellent carvings.