Guanyin Scenic Area

　　Guanyin Village in Guanyin Township is situated at the midpoint of Taoyuan’s coastline. Together with neighboring Xinwu Township, it is a long-established rural area and boasts scenic spots such as the Stone Guanyin at Ganquan Temple and the Baisha Cape Lighthouse. Though tucked away at a remote corner of the coast, it enjoys considerable fame.

　　Originally named Guanyin Temple, Ganquan Temple got its current name after a sweet and clear spring suddenly appeared beside it during the Guangxu era. Legend says the water could cure all ailments, prompting locals to flock here to fetch drinking water. The temple was thus renamed Ganquan (Sweet Spring) Temple. The villagers also set up a Sweet Spring Well at the spring’s source, built a small pavilion, and enshrined a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva there. As the miracles attributed to the site spread far and wide, the temple underwent continuous renovations and eventually grew into the magnificent structure seen today. It has long served as a spiritual center for local residents.

　　Gazing toward the sea from Ganquan Temple, you can see the white, round Baisha Cape Lighthouse rising from the ground. Completed in 1901, the lighthouse is built from bricks and stands 36.6 meters tall, making it the second tallest lighthouse in Taiwan. Its solid base proudly stands amid a stretch of green fields. If you climb the stairs to the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

　　Walking from Ganquan Temple toward the beach, you’ll see a towering Guanyin statue over 20 meters high standing at the end of Zhongxing Road. Modeled after the Guanyin statue in Zhongzheng Park, Keelung, the benevolent-looking statue watches over the land beneath its feet.

　　Transportation Tips: Take a Taoyuan Bus bound for Guanyin from in front of Taoyuan Railway Station or Zhongli City and get off at Ganquan Temple. From there, walk about 850 meters along Xinyi Road and Guangming Road to reach the Baisha Cape Lighthouse; walking about 1.2 kilometers along Zhongxing Road will take you to the beach.