Dalongdong Baoan Temple is located in the Dalongdong area of Taipei City. It is one of Taiwan’s best-preserved Qing dynasty Mazu temples, originally constructed in 1854 through collective funding by immigrants from Quanzhou. The temple masterfully blends southern Fujian architectural craftsmanship with local Taiwanese culture, showcasing exquisite artistry in its intricately carved beams and painted rafters.
Inside the main hall stands a gilded statue of Mazu, her golden form radiating serenity as she holds a ruyi scepter in her hands. Flanking her are the guardian deities Qianliyan (Thousand-Mile Eye) and Shunfeng’er (Wind-Following Ear). Above the shrine hangs a plaque inscribed with “Protector of the Nation and Guardian of the People,” calligraphed during the Guangxu era of the Qing dynasty by Chen Weiying, then magistrate of Taipei, bearing witness to over a century of Taipei’s historical vicissitudes.
Ascending the stone steps, visitors encounter lifelike wood carvings of “Dragon Soaring and Tiger Leaping” and vibrant murals depicting “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” on either side of the central courtyard. Most striking among these is the mural “Mazu’s Procession,” which vividly portrays the tides of Meizhou Bay stretching over 800 li and fishermen singing at dusk—a seamless fusion of faith and daily life.
Surrounding the temple, traditional streets retain their red-brick arcade buildings and wooden eaves. From street corners waft the caramelized aroma of charcoal-roasted pineapple cakes, while century-old eatery “Dalongdong Meatballs” continues to prepare its signature dish by hand using time-honored methods. At nostalgic food stalls, it’s common to see white-haired grandmothers sharing steaming bowls of soup with young tourists.
Baoan Temple is more than a religious sanctuary—it embodies the spirit of Taipei’s immigrant heritage. After Taiwan’s cession to Japan in 1895 following the Treaty of Shimonoseki, the temple became a symbol of collective nostalgia for the Taiwanese people. During the annual Lantern Festival, thousands of lanterns illuminate the temple plaza like a cascading starry river, echoing shared cultural memories across the Taiwan Strait.
