Songshan Ciyou Temple

Perfect stop right next to Raohe Night Market. Highly recommend going at night. With the lights lighting up the intricate carvings on the temple, it looks even more dramatic and lively. Highly suggest going in to see the lanterns, murals and domed ceilings. There are worshippers as well, so we stayed near the walls and out of the way. However, they seem to know this is somewhat of a tourist attraction as well, so most people inside are tourists.nnNote: Visited prior to COVID

The Songshan Ciyou Temple is right next to the Raohe Night Market. Built in 1753, Ciyou Temple is dedicated to the deity Black Faced Mazu. It is a multistory temple consisting six floors with an impressive main hall. The stone carvings on the wall are magnificent. A great view of the streets fro the upper level. It is worth the visit. All kind of people, locals as well as tourists, pass by. They express their wishes by lightening incense sticks and throw (wooden) dice to see if they‘ll be lucky. Taiwanese pragmatic way to things is shown in the way offerings are done. They are put on a table for the goods and recollected once people leave the temple. If people offer new clothes to God, the workers in the temple put a stamp on (inside) the cloth and later people leave them on the table in front of God for some time, before taking them home. It is really nice to see the culture and tradition of the country and its citizens. The locals are helping and kind. Must visit. I must say what a beautiful temple. The engraved and mesmerizing architecture is few of the best beautiful temples in Taipei. The rituals, belief and teaching of Taiwanese culture has always been luring people from years... One of nicest example of Taiwanese architecture design...

Gorgeous temple just near Raohe Night Market. Must visit for those wanting to see local culture and practices.

Songshan Ciyou Temple is famous locates at Night market and near Songshan station, also rainbow bridge for bike. MaZu, the sea goddess is the main god in this temple; however, the temple has became the center of local belief, many gods for serving people ‘s needs, such as Wen Chan god for taking examinations, Yueh Loah god for matchmaker or marriage, Tzu Sun goddess for birth or woman protection, Pao Sun god for health and so on. Very pretty temple even at night still bright, charming

A nice choice if you don't have much time to visit the large temples in Taipei. Just combine two plans together - night market and this temple - they are next to each other. Better have a local friend to take you there and explain the details of this amazing architecture. If you don't have any local friends, make one! If you're lucky enough, you can even see people performing worship rituals, and it's a free live demonstration of local religious culture.