Baoan Temple

Baoan Temple stands at No. 61, Hami Street in Taipei's Datong District. It is a Taoist temple dedicated to Baosheng Dadi, a healing deity, and it is known for its intricate decoration. After a major restoration following 1995, the temple received a UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage award in 2003. Visitors see detailed wood and stone carvings, painted door guardians, a richly ornamented roofline and cut-and-paste ceramic figures that depict legends and lucky symbols. Because the temple is still used for worship, devotees offer incense and prayers in the main hall, and visitors can watch the rituals respectfully. Entry is free and the temple is open daily from 6:30 to 22:00. A typical visit lasts 30 to 45 minutes, enough to walk through the courtyard and halls and study the roof details. The best vantage points are the open courtyard, where the roofline and ceramic decoration can be viewed from below, and the side verandas for close views of the carvings. Mornings are the best time, when the light is good and few tour groups have arrived. Festival days, especially around the deity's birthday celebrations, draw large crowds and events, and weekends are somewhat busier than weekdays. The temple is about a ten-minute walk from MRT Yuanshan Station, and it sits near the Confucius Temple, so the two are often visited together. The nearby streets have traditional snack vendors and small shops that suit a short walk afterwards. Visitors should dress modestly and keep noise low in the worship halls.