Taipei, Taiwan
Aug 1, 2026
Broad streets are lined by tall buildings of steel and glass but there are pockets of older neighborhoods hidden among them. Mostly from 18th and 19th centuries CE though, they are not that old in the grand scheme of things. Some buildings from the colonial era, today ear-marked for official purposes are striking amidst the modern sprawl. Of the city walls that once encircled the old town, only four City Gates remain. They stand marooned in traffic islands as a constant stream of cars, buses, scooters and bicycles whoosh past.
Built in mid 1800s, the district of Wanhua was once called Manka and its busy port formed the backbone of a thriving business district. A narrow street called the Skin-Peeling Alley lies empty today but once catered to the bulk of business. This is where Chinese conifers were stripped of their bark and made ready for sale. Not far from the alley is another short stretch of street called the Herb Alley. It still offers herbs and potions to treat medical conditions albeit not quite as much as it did a couple of centuries ago.
In the heart of this district is In the Longshan Temple, built in 1738 dedicated to Guanyin but also host of a variety of other deites. Destroyed thrice and rebuilt each time, it is one of the most revered temples in Taipei. It is thronged by locals who pray to the various deities. A particular practice is tossing a pair of red-painted wooden blocks called moonstones.
A question is asked of the patron deity and the answer is interpreted from the way the moonstones land. Curiously, if the answer is not to one’s liking, one can apparently toss the blocks an unspecified number of times until the desired answer. Throwing of dice and theories of probability spring to my mind. Blasphemy!
ITCHY FEET TRAVELS 