Dalongdong Baoan Temple
Main Deities
About
A temple can win international recognition for how well it is restored, and Dalongdong Baoan Temple did exactly that. Because its restoration held to traditional craftsmanship instead of taking modern shortcuts, this old temple in Taipei's Datong District received an Honourable Mention in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2003, and it has become a model for temple restoration in Taiwan. It is dedicated to Baosheng Dadi, the god of medicine. Inside, the walls carry murals by the master painter Pan Li-shui, alongside fine koji pottery and woodcarving. With less of the usual temple bustle and more of a scholarly calm, stepping in feels like entering a quiet hall of art.
History
In 1742, the seventh year of the Qing Qianlong reign, immigrants from Tong'an brought a divided spirit of Baosheng Dadi from the Ciji Temple at Baijiao, in Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian, to Dalongdong. As Dalongdong prospered, the temple grew with it. Fundraising for a large three-hall temple began in 1805, and the work was finally finished in 1830, setting the layout seen today. What truly made Baoan Temple famous was the great seven-year restoration from 1995 to 2002. The temple insisted on traditional methods, repairing it slowly brick by brick and tile by tile, and the result earned an Honourable Mention in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2003. Every year the Baosheng Cultural Festival also features the fire lion ritual, using flames to drive away evil and pray for blessings, a rare and precious piece of folk tradition.
Dalongdong Baoan Temple
Datong District, Taipei City
Visitor Info
Address
No. 61, Hami St, Datong District, Taipei City
Region
Datong District, Taipei City
Plan Your Visit
- Hours
- Daily 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- When to Go
- It is liveliest around Baosheng Dadi's birthday on lunar 3/15. The temple's Baosheng Cultural Festival runs for more than two months, with family-sponsored opera performances, fire walking, and fire lion displays.
Checked on 2026-10-13 · Sources: Google Maps