We were recommended to visit Zhulinshan Guanyin Temple (Bamboo Forest Mountain Guanyin Temple) by Master Kuo for blessings, and we were glad we followed his advice. Located in Jinghu Village, Linkou Township, the temple enshrines the magnificent Eighteen-Armed Guanyin Bodhisattva.
As we weren’t very familiar with Taiwan, I used Google Maps to find the fastest route from Taipei Main Station. By car or taxi, the journey takes around 23 minutes, while public transport can take up to 1.5 hours. There are no direct trains to the temple, but buses can get you fairly close. We set off early, and luckily, public transport wasn’t too crowded.
Around the temple, there are small supermarkets, florists, grocery shops, and local food stalls where you can buy fruits or biscuits for offerings. If you need joss sticks, the temple provides them—you simply make a donation in the box.
The temple itself is truly spectacular. It looks grand, well-organised, and meticulously maintained. There are plenty of parking spaces nearby, as well as a vegetarian food court. Since we arrived early, most shops were still closed, but by the time we left around 11am, a bao (bun) shop had opened. From what I observed, most places here operate on a cash-only basis.
As you walk up the gentle slope towards the temple, the view becomes increasingly impressive. Even before reaching the main entrance, the entire complex appears majestic, flanked by bell and drum towers on either side. The central courtyard is spacious and features four-tiered, colourful roofs with high-grade glazed tiles.
The craftsmanship throughout the temple is exquisite. Detailed wood and stone carvings depict birds, animals, insects, fish, human figures, and flowers, all intricately designed. Elegant couplets are engraved on the stone pillars, adding to the cultural richness of the site.
After placing our offerings, we lit joss sticks at the main incense burner and inside the temple. In addition to seeking blessings, visitors can draw Chinese fortune sticks—each number corresponds to a specific fortune, offering insight or guidance. There are also plenty of Jiaobei (divination blocks) available.
The temple grounds span approximately 24,000 square metres, with the main building occupying around 2,000 square metres. The surrounding gardens are beautifully landscaped with a variety of flowers and trees. Although we didn’t have time to explore fully, we spotted cherry blossoms in bloom, with many visitors stopping to take photos.
We thoroughly enjoyed the architecture of the temple—it is not only stunning but also very well maintained. I was especially glad we visited on such a beautiful day; the bright sunshine made the experience even more memorable. Afterwards, we took a bus back to Zhongzheng District.
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