Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SUBURBAN SPECIALS
Lin Family Mansion & Gardens
In 1778, Lin Ying-yin migrated to Taiwan from Fujian province and his family
amassed a great fortune trading rice and salt. Eventually the family settled in what
is now Banqiao City and in the mid-19th century built their
mansion
(Lín Běnyuán
Yuándǐ; info 2965 3061;
http://en.linfamily.tpc.gov.tw
; 9 Ximen St; 9am-5pm, closed 1st Monday
of each month; 307, 310 to Beimen St)
and expansive gardens in the mid-19th
century. Today both are the largest remaining examples from that period left in
Taiwan. Beautiful carvings in stone and wood abound, as well as traditional archi-
tectural motifs representing luck and fortune: look out in particular for the varied
windows in the shape of butterflies, bats, coins, peaches and fans. The garden is
designed in the southern Chinese style with abundant viewpoints created in the
limited space by narrow maze-like walkways.
You can tour the garden area, which included ponds, pavilions and numerous
buildings, on your own, but to visit the
residence
(Sān Luò Dà Cuò) you need to sign
up for a tour (also free) at the entrance. At the the time of writing, tour times were
at 10am, 11am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
To get here take Fuzhong MRT Exit 3 and follow the English signs (about a
10-minute/700m walk).
Museum of World Religions
Though founded by a Buddhist order, the stated goal of the
museum
(Shìjiè Zōngjiào
Bówùguǎn;
www.mwr.org.tw
;
7th fl, 236 Zhongshan Rd, Sec 1, Yonghe City; admission NT$150;
10am-5pm Tue-Sun; Dingxi, then bus 706, 297 or 243)
is not to promote Buddhism, but to
build harmony by showing the communality of all religions. Highlights include de-
tailed scale models of the world's great religious holy sites, such as Islam's Dome
of the Rock, Sikhism's Golden Temple and Christianity's Chartres Cathedral; re-
markably, the insides of these models can be viewed via tiny cameras. The mu-
seum also features riveting multimedia presentations, reflection-inducing exhibits
such as the Hall of Life's Journey, a meditation room and a Kid's Land. The
cafeteria
( 11am-8pm Tue-Sun)
serves good vegetarian food.
Signage in English is mostly good and there's a recorded English audio tour avail-
able for NT$50. To get to the museum, take Yongan Market MRT Exit B, turn right
and go straight. Turn left at Yongzhen Rd, walk to Zhongshan Rd, then turn left here
and look for the museum at the edge of a department store.
Luzhou Lee Residence House
This sprawling traditional red-bricksiheyuan(four-sided)
residence
(
www.luchoulee.org.tw
;
admission NT$60; 9.30am-4pm; Luzhou)
has miraculously sur-
vived demolition. Take the MRT to Luzhou station, take Exit 1 and cross the street
