The massive Thousand-Handed Guanyin is absolutely spectacular – a must-visit photo spot for your IG feed!

By / Scenic Spots Home Editorial Team
 
Who would’ve thought such a place exists in the Greater Taipei area? The towering Thousand-Handed Guanyin statue, visible from afar, commands awe, and its grand presence has recently become an incredibly popular photo backdrop on IG.

The origin of Yuandao Guanyin Temple traces back to the travels of Miaokong, the first patriarch of the Buddhist Vehicle Sect, who attained enlightenment through the Dharma Body Buddha. The teachings were passed to the second patriarch, Yuandao Bodhisattva, who came to Taiwan in 1953 to propagate the great Buddhist teachings. In 1988, the teachings were entrusted to Master Shanshan, who then established the sect’s ancestral temple in Tamsui, New Taipei City.

Yuandao Guanyin Temple was constructed with high standards in design, materials, earthquake resistance, structure, and construction techniques. The main structure uses SRC reinforced concrete and adheres to the same seismic resistance standards as nuclear power plants, capable of withstanding earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher.

The most eye-catching feature of Yuandao Guanyin Temple is the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteshvara statue on the Bodhi Hall. Its majestic figure can be seen from afar, and its design has received recognition in 154 international art competitions.

Additionally, the central courtyard of the main hall features a unique pillar-free super-span structure with a height of 15 meters and a diameter of 25 meters. The bright, spacious interior sets a precedent for large-scale designs in Buddhist worship halls in Taiwan.