Chung Tai Chan Monastery

Chung Tai Chan Monastery is located in Puli Township in central Taiwan's Nantou County. Its construction began in 1990 and lasted for a whole decade. The structure was designed by the renowned Taiwanese architect, Li Tsu-Yuan, and combines both Chinese and Western architectual styles.

The main building of the monastery stretches vertically, in sharp contrast to many traditional Chinese temples which are horizontally extended. The primary building material is stone, which represents the firmness of Buddhist belief. The main structure stands upright among other lower buildings and the surrounding hills, resembling a saint sitting in the green woods. This symbolizes a pursuit of eternal peace, which is the Buddhist goal.

More than one hundred thousand religious followers come to visit Chung Tai Chan Monastery every year. Other local and international visitors come to participate in art and science seminars that explore the monastery's architectual beauty.