Feitsui Reservoir in the Pingling District

After leaving Shiding, I was still intent on getting to Shifen before the light faded.  Shifen appeared to be on highway 106 after Pinglin. However, when I reached the Pinglin District, I realized I had gone onto Route 9 at some point as I was only 16 kilometers away from Xindian.

The Pinglin District (坪林區) is the third largest district in New Taipei City, Taiwan. It's a rural area in the mountains which connect to Yilan County on the east coast. It took about 20 minutes to get there from Shiding by scooter. I think this was Yongan village.



Buddhist Guanyin Statues protecting a dangerous part of the road to Pinglin

I decided that rather than backtrack and try find the route to Shifen, I'd have a look at the beautiful reservoir with an emerald surface I saw from the road. There were no safe places to stop along the highway, but I finally found an entrance to the reservoir itself.

It turned out to be the  Feitsui Reservoir, which  flows all the way from the Fetsui Dam (翡翠水庫)  in the Shiding District.  The Feitsui Dam spans the Xindian River and is one of two major reservoirs supplying water to the Taipei-Tamsui-Taoyuan region. The other is Shimen Dam in Taoyuan County. This hiking and bicycling area around Pinglin is one of the few places the reservoir is publicly accessible.

The enchanting views of these serpentine bright emerald green waters among the steep hills and tea farms is quite spectacular.

 To get there directly from Taipei, ride along Route 9 from Beishin Road in Xindian. Or to go through Shenkeng, and Shifen, take Route 106 from near the Taipei Zoo in Muzha.

To learn more about interesting places and sights to visit in Taiwan, check out my list of Places to see in Taiwan

Yuan-Dao Guan-Ying Buddhist Temple

One of my favorite temples around Taipei is the Yuan-Dao Guan-Yin Temple (緣道觀音廟). It is situated on a mountainous part of the Danshui Township. It has a wonderful atmosphere, with the simplicity of its design mixing perfectly with the tranquil surroundings.  The frugal, but elegant design of the temple is often mistaken for a Japanese Zen temple, which are influenced by Chinese architectural styles during that era.

The Yuan-Dao Guan-Yin Temple is a four-story temple built in the Tang style. The temple displays a sense of ancient simplicity in the valley with its predominantly wooden features. Around the temple is a wonderfully landscaped outdoor relaxation area with a sleeping Buddha statue, 33 Guan-Yin stone statues, the monastery, stone sidewalk, and the Japanese garden, that bring comfort and harmony to one's body and mind.

The first things you see when visiting the Yuan-Dao Guan-Yin Temple are the grand wall cascade with waterfalls and the ancient temple gate, called " The Door to the Great Way."

On the first Floor Worship Hall,  Da Zi Zai Wan Fo is worshiped, along with the four chief Bodhisattvas: Kuan-Yin, Wen-Shu, Dee-Tsang, and Pu-Hsien, and two great guardian Bodhisattvas: Wei-To and Chieh-Lan. On the right side of the hall, Yuan-Dao Bodhisattva, the second Patriarch of Forshang Buddhism is worshiped.


© Photographer: Imagesbykenny | Agency: Dreamstime.com

The Yuan-Dao Guan-Yin Temple has its own unique incense for worshiping Buddha, love, health, peace, help, parent, children, honor, wealthy and career. Visitors may offer the appropriate incense to the Dragon-Riding Guan-Yin, The Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Guan-Yin Bodhisattva, Wen-Shu Bodhisattva, Dee-Tsang Bodhisattva, or Pu-Hsien Bodhisattva.

The "Potential-inspiring Pyramid" is made in the perfect ratio of a Pyramid. The totems of the universe drawn in four different colors on the pyramid are able to instantly uplift the four positive energies: Wisdom, Fortune, Health and Love.  

The second floor displays all the holy relics—cremated beings where the “Forshang Deliverance Rice” was spread before the cremation of these people and animals, showing that the deceased beings have already been delivered to the Pure Land.  

The Yuan-Dao Guan-Yin Temple provides an excellent interpretation service for visitors.

Website: http://www.yuandao.org.tw/

Address: No. 3, Antznei, Danshui Township, Taipei, Taiwan 251, ROC

Phone: +886 2 2626-9242 Fax: +886 2 2626-9233

Visiting hours: Mon–Fri, 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.    Sat & Sun 9:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
Getting there: Take the Bodhi Zeal Shuttle bus across the road from Hongshulin MRT Station


To see more of my photos of Taiwan, please visit http://imagesbykenny.com/

To learn more about interesting places and sights to visit in Taiwan, check out my list of Places to see in Taiwan