By MOOK Scenic Spots Home, compiled and reported
The Taiwanese film 'The Great Buddha+', which returned with honors from the Toronto International Film Festival, has also attracted much attention at the Busan Film Festival. Aside from its use of Taiwanese Hokkien—different from standard Chinese—which allows global filmmakers to understand a different side of Taiwan through language, the film’s distinctive shooting style, director Ah Yao was favored by director Chung Mong-hong, and his unique camera perspectives offer viewers a different view of Taiwan’s landscapes and the realities of life. These moving scenes have also recently become hot topics on Instagram, becoming alternative popular spots searched and tagged by netizens.
The selection of filming locations for 'The Great Buddha+' has unique characteristics and has quietly become a popular spot shared and followed by many users on Instagram. (Image / Garage Play)
1. Wu Jinsheng Buddhist Art Museum, Daliao, Kaohsiung
The factory where the Buddha statue is made serves as a main setting in the film, including the factory where the key events take place and the security guard room where the two protagonists, Cai Pi and Tu Cai, bicker. Using the existing Buddha statue displays at the Wu Jinsheng Buddhist Art Museum, along with the added security guard room set, the entire space has a collage-like Taiwanese factory aesthetic.
2. Fengshan Gymnasium, Kaohsiung
The unique window grid design of Fengshan Gymnasium adds even more style to the black-and-white cinematography. The final Buddhist ceremony scene takes place here, complementing the solemn and suspenseful atmosphere.
The unique window grid lines of Fengshan Gymnasium. (Image / Fengshan Gymnasium, Kaohsiung)
3. Qigu Health Center, Tainan
Established in 1949, due to insufficient medical facilities and the difficult lives of local villagers leading to delayed medical treatment, a public health center was set up. The long, single-story building with simple iron beds and ceiling fans preserves the ambiance of a rural health clinic. The protagonist Cai Pi’s mother suffered from long-term illness but lacked the means to seek better medical care. This scene portrays the helplessness and desolation of the poor in their daily lives. The production team started filming here and continued to capture the scenery of central and southern Taiwan as well as the stories of lower and middle-class citizens.
Qigu Health Center, Tainan. (Image / Tainan City Government)
4. Masagou Old Fishing Port, Tainan
Located at the Jiajiang Interchange on the West Coast Expressway, this was once a thriving fishing port on Taiwan’s west coast. In recent years, environmental changes have led to declining fish catches and fewer fishing boats coming and going. However, local fishing communities and the surrounding scenery of the fishing port can still be seen. The production team transformed a warehouse used by residents into the home of the male protagonist Tu Cai, who works in recycling. The dilapidated residence and the desolate port highlight the hardships of Tu Cai, a middle-aged man.
The beautiful beach of Masagou, and the old fishing port offers a uniquely charming vibe. (Image / Tainan City Government)
5. Qigu FishXm, Tainan
The Qigu area features mostly tidal flats, sandbars, lagoons, and a scattering of salt fields, creating a unique landscape. The film uses long shots to capture the Xisomi band playing within this setting, delivering a grand visual feel.
The scenic beauty of Qigu FishXm is even more atmospheric at sunset. (Image / MOOK)
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