Chien Tan Ancient Temple

Chien Tan Ancient Temple

Chien Tan Ancient Temple is located on Beian Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, and is a Buddhist temple primarily dedicated to Guanyin. The temple was originally built during the Zheng dynasty of Taiwan and was initially situated near Chien Tan Mountain. However, due to the construction of the Taiwan Shrine and the Imperial Messenger Street during the Japanese colonial period, it was relocated and rebuilt at its current site in 1937. Additionally, the organizational structure of the temple is a manager system, and the festival date is annually on the 19th day of the second lunar month.

Chien Tan Ancient Temple is one of the oldest temples in Taipei. The temple itself has undergone multiple renovations over the years, so some parts of the structure reveal newly restored sections that contrast with weathered stone carvings. Beside the temple lies a wooded garden where original pillars and stone tablets from the old Chien Tan Ancient Temple are preserved. Traces left on the pillars seem to narrate the temple’s long and storied history. Because the temple was forcibly relocated here during the Japanese occupation, its location became somewhat remote, and it is no longer as bustling with worshippers as it once was. However, this has also given it a more serene and tranquil atmosphere.

Jiantan Old Temple

Must-visit reason: The oldest temple in the Taipei area