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Longshan Temple

Of the many temples in Taipei, the Longshan Temple, dedicated to Guanyin the Goddess of Mercy, is one of the most popular and represents an excellent example of the architecture commonly seen in older buildings in Taiwan. It was built in 1738 to serve as a place of worship for Chinese settlers, and has had a troubled history, being destroyed several times by earthquakes, fires and even American bombers during World War II. Undaunted, Taipei residents have rebuilt it each time, and it remains very much in use.