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to be the oldest and most famous of Taipei's infinite temples is Lungshan
or Dragon Mountain. Located west of the Chiang Kaishek Memorial Hall on
Kuangchou Street, this intricate temple was built in the early 18th Century
to honor Taiwan's patron deities, Kuanyin and Matsu.
During the World
War in 1945, the temple hall was destroyed by flames brought about by
a dropped bomb, but the wooden statue of Kuanyin withstood the parching
flames with the exception of a little ash on her feet. The hall was rebuilt
again in 1957. Worshippers believed that the statue survived the burning
flames because of Kuanyin's supernatural powers. The temple is also acclaimed
for its stone sculpture, woodcarving, and bronze work. A spectacular sight
is the 12 main support columns that sustains the central hall, which appears
to come alive with their dragons shaped from solid stone. Visiting hours
are extended to late night, and even then worshippers continue to throng
the temple to chant and pray.
 Several
kilometers to the northeast of the Grand Hotel and past the Martyrs' Shrine
is the National Palace Museum. Beige-bricked with green and imperial yellow
slate roofs, the building houses countless Chinese treasures, from ancient
art paintings to exquisite and rare craft works. The museum opened its
doors to the public in 1965, but the history of its treasures goes back
beyond 1,000 years to the start of the Song Dynasty (960-1279AD).
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