Tamsui Wuji Tianyuan Temple

Wu Ji Tian Yuan Temple is located in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, built on a hillside facing the sea. It is a Taoist temple that harmoniously blends religious devotion with natural scenery. The temple was first founded in 1972 by spiritual practitioner Huang A-Kuan and fellow believers, and was officially registered as a foundation in 1977, making it one of the few temples in the Tamsui area organized under a modern legal framework. The name “Wu Ji” (meaning “Infinite” or “Primordial Void”) symbolizes the Taoist concept of the undivided cosmos and the origin of all things, and this temple is the first in Taiwan to be named after this principle.

The temple complex is magnificent and includes the Main Hall, the Zhenyuan Tiantan (True Essence Altar), the Gathering of Three Saints Hall, and the Wu Ji Xuanshu Great Hall, each imbued with profound symbolic meaning. Among them, the Zhenyuan Tiantan is particularly striking — a five-story, white, circular structure with a diameter of over 100 meters, resembling a giant jade altar. Inside, statues carved from white marble and precious wood radiate solemn beauty, and the hall enshrines several supreme deities, making it a central pilgrimage site.

Wu Ji Tian Yuan Temple is also renowned as one of Taiwan’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots. In spring, the temple grounds are covered with blooming cherry blossoms, from mountain cherry trees to Yoshino cherry trees. The ring of Yoshino cherries encircling the Zhenyuan Tiantan creates a breathtaking scene when in full bloom, as if a sea of flowers were lifting the grand altar itself. This has made the temple one of northern Taiwan’s most popular destinations for flower viewing and photography.

During the cherry blossom season, the temple often hosts prayer and cultural events, and shuttle buses are arranged from Tamsui MRT Station for convenient access. Outside of the flower season, visitors come for the temple’s majestic architecture, tranquil forests, and expansive views, making it a unique place where religious culture and natural beauty intertwine.