Jiantan Ancient Temple

Traveler highlights

Jiantan Ancient Temple originally stood on Jiantan Mountain. It was moved twice after the expansion of Taiwan Shrine in 1937, eventually settling in Dazhi. Only the rear hall of the original three-hall complex survives; the temple is now a registered historic building. According to legend, the monk Huarong encountered a red snake blocking his way here and raised funds to build a temple after divination. Donated by Wu Tingjie and others in 1773, it was once also called Guanyin Pavilion. The temple expanded to three halls with bell and drum towers in 1923 and attracted hundreds of thousands of worshippers annually during Japanese rule. After relocation, limited space meant the front and main halls could not be preserved. The remaining rear hall combines northern-style yellow roof tiles with Japanese features. Visitors can look closely at its scale and roof details while considering the two relocations and reduced footprint. The temple’s name, legends, inscriptions, and lost bell preserve traces of how urban expansion reshaped local religious sites in Taipei.