Hunglodei Nanshan Fude Temple

If you’ve driven along Taiwan’s Highway #3 near Taipei, you’ve probably noticed the colossal Tudigong statue as a roadside curiosity near Zhonghe District. At over 30 meters tall, this statue of the "Lord of the Land" is part of Nanshan Fude Temple. Locals refer to the temple as "Hunglodei" in Taiwanese, a namesake derived from the shape of the mountain it rests on, which resembles a traditional oven (hunglo).

What began as a humble shrine in the 1950s has grown into one of the three largest Tudigong temples in Taiwan, alongside Zhushan Zinan Temple and Checheng Fuan Temple in central and southern Taiwan. The expansion was fueled by devoted worshippers who contributed to the construction of multiple halls, a large activity center, souvenir shops, and even extensive parking facilities. Today, the temple is a pilgrimage destination for locals and travelers alike.

The towering Tudigong statue sits atop the Caishen Hall, which is dedicated to the god of wealth. Worshippers visit the hall not only to admire the imposing statue but to participate in a unique ritual to receive a “fortune coin” (Chien-Mu, “money mother,” literally), believed to attract wealth and good fortune. Now the ritual is automated by computer, involving the process of touching the statue’s beard, staff, and ingot, and retrieving a one-dollar coin from the statue’s sleeve. Visitors often carry the fortune coin in their wallets or place it in their homes as a charm for financial stability.

The main hall of the temple lies uphill, behind the giant Tudigong. Reaching it requires climbing more than 400 steps (some count 452 or 423, depending on the starting point), or a grueling 1,137 steps if you begin at the very base. This climb is considered an act of devotion, though rumors of a wealthy donor offering to build an escalator have been denied by temple officials.  At the top of the steps, visitors are rewarded with a visit to the beautifully adorned hall and panoramic city views from the southwest corner of the Taipei basin.

But perhaps the most unexpected feature of the site is the collection of giant dinosaur statues along the road leading to the temple. Dinosaurs are definitely not part of Taiwanese folk religion, but these statues have become a quirky highlight for visitors. The sight of these prehistoric creatures juxtaposed with the spiritual grandeur of the temple creates a memorable—and highly photographable—experience.