By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
In late autumn, as maple leaves gradually turn from green to red, popular foliage spots across the country begin to welcome the season. In Xizhi District, New Taipei City, there is a temple steeped in the historic charm of ancient trails — Gongbei Temple, a renowned century-old temple. Its exterior features classic traditional Chinese architecture, but the stone lanterns at both ends of the stone steps are remnants of the shrine lamps from Japan’s Nogi Shrine, creating a unique blend of Chinese and Japanese styles.
An ancient bridge rich in historical and cultural ambiance (Image source: Xizhi District Office)
Traditional Chinese temple architecture (Image source: Xizhi District Office)
Shrine lamps left over from the Japanese colonial period (Image source: Xizhi District Office)
Gongbei Temple is a well-known destination for autumn foliage viewing. With its serene and tranquil environment overlooking the surrounding mountains, it offers a refreshing experience. The touches of Japanese-style architecture evoke thoughts of the ancient cultural heritage of Kyoto, while the vast expanses of crimson leaves, ancient bridges, and temple create a sensation of traveling through time.
As if admiring the scenery in ancient China (Image source: Xizhi District Office)
Vast expanses of crimson leaves that could be called a “Little Kyoto” (Image source: Xizhi District Office)
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