Spend a night at a temple / Stay in Xinyi District with a view of Taipei 101 — for just NT$250?

Text & Photos / 943, excerpted from HowToTrip Publishing’s “Spend a Night at a Temple”



Songshan Fangtian Temple, also known as the “Heavenly Emperor Temple,” is located at the foot of Tiger Mountain in the southeastern corner of Taipei City, dedicated to the Jade Emperor. Secondary deities include the Five Wealth Gods, Wenchang Dijun (God of Literature), and Zhusheng Niangniang (Goddess of Fertility). It is believed to be especially efficacious for those seeking wealth, academic success, or fertility. Many years ago, a man who had hit rock bottom took shelter under the altar table for three days when he had nowhere else to go. He later went on to develop his career in Japan and returned triumphantly, donating nearly one million NTD as a token of gratitude — a story that has become widely told.



Bring Good Luck Like This
At Fangtian Temple, you can shake divining blocks {J to ask for guidance. Upon receiving three positive blocks {J, you can receive a Peace Incense Bag. After circling the incense burner three times, you can carry it with you for protection. There are also “Prosperous Gold Ingots” available for a voluntary donation to “replenish your fortune.”

Every weekend before noon, you can also enjoy free peace noodles shared by devotees. The dry noodles with fragrant sauce always attract long queues — eat them and stay safe. On the second floor, the West Wing’s Tai Sui Hall offers Tai Sui Star Lord Peace Cards that you can take home. You can find the protective Tai Sui General corresponding to your zodiac sign and birth year. Donations are also voluntary and go into the merit box. Outside the hall, there is a library open to the public for reading and enjoying a quiet atmosphere.



Find Inner Peace Like This
Want to calm your mind or relieve stress without venturing deep into the mountains? Just a short distance behind Songshan Fangtian Temple is the Hu Mountain Nature Trail. Every morning, people walk up the steps along the trail, shaded by green trees and accompanied by the sounds of birds in the valley — a favorite spot for locals to relax and exercise.

Nearby Strolling Routes
A 20-minute walk takes you to the department stores of Xinyi Shopping District, Taipei 101, Vieshow Cinemas, Eslite Bookstore, and 44 South Village. Heading north, you’ll find the Wufenpu clothing market and Raohe Night Market.

Accommodation Introduction


The meditation rooms are located on the second floor, with about twenty in total. Since the west-facing rooms overlook Taipei 101 and the rooftop on the third floor is open to the public for fireworks viewing, these rooms are usually fully booked by October for New Year’s Eve. Typically, hotels in downtown Taipei that offer views of Taipei 101 charge thousands or even tens of thousands of NTD, so staying in a clean and quiet room for less than half that price is an incredible value.

Rooms with views of Taipei 101 are very popular and often get booked earliest. The sixteen-person dormitory rooms are also open to backpackers or cycle tourists, and efforts are made to avoid assigning strangers to the same room — but they only accept guests traveling in groups of two or more. For larger groups, there are also driver rooms available, and group meals can be reserved: NT$2000 per table for dinner, NT$600 per table for breakfast, up to ten people per table, with both meat and vegetarian options, plus a large meeting room available for use. Wi-Fi is available in the main hall, washing machines are coin-free, and the temple provides four large boilers — no need to worry about cold water. The meditation room hallway thoughtfully includes tea stations where friends can gather to chat over tea.