Lotus Pond, formerly known as Lianhua Pond, is located south of Banping Mountain and north of Turtle Mountain in Kaohsiung City
The pond is 1
4 kilometers long and got its name from the fragrant lotuses that filled the pond during the Qing Dynasty, especially in the summer
The Lotus Pond scenic area has numerous temples along the west bank, with over 20 temples within a 500-meter radius, including Kaohsiung Confucius Temple, Spring and Autumn Pavilions, Qiming Hall, Wuli Pavilion, and Dragon and Tiger Towers from north to south
The long bridges, art pavilions, pagodas, and vibrant colors add to the lively atmosphere of Lianhua Pond, making it a famous temple sightseeing area in Zuoying
The west bank is also the bustling old town of Zuoying
Meanwhile, the east bank of the pond features a spacious lakeside road, and the south bank is connected by Shengli Road and Xinzhuangzi Road, forming a complete loop around the lake
During dawn and dusk, the mist over the pond creates a mysterious and elusive beauty, especially in the summer when the pond is full of water, reflecting shimmering light and adorned by willows and floating duckweeds, reminiscent of West Lake
To visit all the attractions around Lotus Pond, it may take half a day or a full day
For tourists, it is more manageable to visit the important temples on the west bank, as the attractions are relatively concentrated, and walking around does not feel too tiring
The Dragon and Tiger Towers, standing seven stories high, feature twin pavilions on the pond with dragon and tiger statues in front of each
Visitors can enter through the dragon’s mouth and exit through the tiger’s mouth, symbolizing good fortune
Inside the Dragon Tower, there are illustrations of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars of China, while the Tiger Tower displays paintings of the Twelve Worthies
The towers are connected to the shore by a winding bridge, standing majestically and reflecting beautifully on the pond’s surface
The dragon and tiger mouths are popular spots for tourists to take photos
Continuing from the Dragon and Tiger Towers, one arrives at the Spring and Autumn Pavilions and Qiming Hall
The Spring and Autumn Pavilions are two Chinese palace-style pavilions, collectively known as the Spring Pavilion and Autumn Pavilion, each with four levels and eight corners, green tiles, and yellow walls, resembling ancient pagodas with a rustic charm
They are connected by winding bridges and are also known as the ‘Spring and Autumn Imperial Pavilions,’ built in memory of the martial saint Guan Gong
In front of the pavilions, there is a statue of Guanyin riding a dragon, as local legend has it that the Bodhisattva Guanyin once appeared riding a dragon in the clouds and instructed followers to build a holy statue in her appearance between the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, which is why the current statue of Guanyin riding a dragon exists
In front of the statue, there is a small pond housing hundreds of turtles of various shapes, so lifelike that one might mistake them for sculptures
Next to the Spring and Autumn Pavilions is Qiming Hall, also known as the Southeast Imperial Hall, a magnificent temple by the Lotus Pond
In the middle of the winding bridges of the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, there is a long bridge extending into the pond, with a three-story pavilion at the end known as the Wuli Pavilion, from which one can capture a panoramic view of the Dragon and Tiger Towers opposite
Walking north along the path beside the pond from the Confucius Temple, you will find the Confucius Temple
This is a building imitating the northern palace style, with magnificent and grand architecture
The interior includes Dacheng Hall, Dacheng Gate, east and west corridors, Chongsheng Shrine, Lingxing Gate, Limen and Yilu Square, Minglun Hall and Pangong Square, Wanren Palace Wall, Pangchi and arch bridge, etc
, with complete architecture
You can pray for your child’s academic success here
Opening hours: Open all day all year round
Must-see tips: Do not randomly feed the turtles in the turtle pond in front of Chunqiu Pavilion
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