Budai Buddha
The Paochueh Buddha in Taichung is 27 feet tall . It’s also one of the largest laughing Gautma Buddhas in Taiwan. The temple was built in 1927 as a cornerstone between Taiwanese and Japanese Buddhism. The original temple is brick, however, a modern Japanese-style fortress-like enclosure has been built around it to protect it. . Nearby the entrance to the temple is a minor graveyard. It contains a Shinto shrine with the bones of 36,000 Japanese soldiers that died in Taiwan in World War 2. Expect to see lots of Japanese tourists on your visit here.
Details
寶覺禪寺
No.140, Jianxing Rd., North Dist., Taichung City 404
臺中市北區健行路140 號
Tel: +886 (4) 2233 5179
Open: 09:00 am – 05:00 pm (Mon-Sun)
FREE to Visit
Getting There
There are several buses going near to the Paochueh buddha, but none direct. That being said, walk up Shuang Shi Road (雙十路) to Gan Cheng Bus stop (link), and take bus 65 to Shinmin High School (新民高中) on Chongde Road (崇德路). Walk east along Jian Shing Road (健行路) for 200 m until you see a large round buddha on your left-hand side.
Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budai
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/taiwan/western-taiwan/taichung/sights/religious-sites/paochueh-temple
Cover Photo By Marian McCaffrey (Laughing Buddha, Paocheuh Temple, Taichung, Taiwan) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
