Taoist Temple

Why Taoist Temple is special ?

The Taoist temple, a place for meditation, is located in Beverly Hills Subdivision, Lahug, Cebu. The taoist which is built on a hillside has a towering multi-tiered attraction. Because the temple is open to both worshipers and non-worshipers, it has now become a tourist attraction in Cebu.

Perched high in the northern hills overlooking the city, the Taoist Temple is a symbol of the city's large and prosperous ethnic Chinese population. It's not one for temple aficionados; the architecture is functional and austere by Chinese standards. Nevertheless the trip here, past the gated mansions of exclusive Beverly Hills, is a good excuse to see how Cebu's wealthier citizens live, and the views over the city are noteworthy.

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What to explore at Taoist Temple?

Taoist Temple is the a center of worship for Taoism, the religion which follows the teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tze. You can see Taoist devotees following their traditional rites and rituals on Wednesdays and Sundays, as they climb the 99 steps of the temple to light joss sticks and have their fortunes read by the monks.

Built in 1972, the Taoist Temple is constructed in a highly ornate and, some would say, gaudy style that is typical of much modern Chinese religious architecture (with a predominantly red and green coloring scheme), and is topped with a pagoda-style roof.

The temple has an elevation of 300 meters above sea level, and if you climb the 99 steps to the entrance, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of Cebu City and the harbor and in the distance Mactan and Bohol islands. Nice sunset views too.

Not far from this temple, on the top of a hill a little lower down, is another Taoist edifice known as the Cebu Heavenly Temple of Charity. This temple has an imposing central altar with many statues of the Chinese gods and goddesses on all sides. These include the Supreme God and Milagrosa Rosa (the temple's patron saint).

The hill where it stands has its own excellent views. A water spring flows underneath the temple.

Though visited by fewer tourists, the Heavenly Temple of Charity has is very beautiful and is definitely worth a visit.

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How to get to Taoist Temple?

In Lahug, just near to JY Square, you will see a small road and a bridge in the right. From there you have three options:

Take a taxi

Ride a motorcycle – If you ride a motorcylce, the payment is 10 pesos. However, motorcycles are not allowed to enter Beverly Hills. So from the entrance, you will need to walk to taoist temple. But that’s not a problem because the temple is not that far from the entrance. Also, you will get a nice view when you walk there. The air is cool, the place is quiet and calm, and the houses are beautiful.

Walk – If you’re a person who is used to walking, then this is a good option for you. But if you’re a person who gets tired easily, this may not be the best option for you. In the temple, there are many stairs that you will have to climb in order to see the other views so you might want to save some energy.

Source: http://www.travellingthephilippines.info/