Latest news with #Daoist
Sydney Morning Herald
29-04-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Port guide: Keelung, Taiwan
Artwork-adorned Maritime Plaza near the cruise terminals is a favourite with strolling local families. From there Keelung dissolves into raucous streets lined by eclectic shops and rough-edged eateries. Stop by Dianji Temple for a goggle at its ornate statues and carvings representing mythical sea creatures. The town's famous Miaokou street market is a magnet for foodies. Stalls have English signs announcing specialities such as oyster omelettes, beef noodles, braised pork, or soup dumplings. Don't miss If you haven't been to Taiwan before, you ought to head 30 kilometres inland to Taipei, the focus of most shore excursions, but easily navigated independently. It combines the ultra-contemporary with living Chinese traditions often absent on the mainland. Top sights include Taipei 101 skyscraper and its observation platform, memorial halls to Chiang Kai-shek and revolutionary leader Sun Yat-Sen, and temples that combine Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian elements. The best are Longshan Temple and Qingshan Temple. The National Palace Museum houses the world's greatest collection of Chinese art. Get active Keelung is humid and often rainy, and its crowded concrete is hardly conducive to exercise. Get some early-morning treadmill work done in the ship's gym before you disembark. One good walk, however, takes you from the port uphill to Zhongzheng Park, crowned by a Buddhist temple and enormous statue of goddess Guan Yin. The complex is kitsch and colourful, and you get good harbour views. Loading Retail therapy Shoppers should get themselves into Taipei, one of the world's best cities for street markets such as Jianguo Jade Market, Guanghua Computer Market for all things electronic, and Chinese Handicraft Mart for porcelain, scroll paintings, lacquer boxes, silk clothes and modern Chinese kitsch. Shilin Street market is famous for its evening food but in the daytime sells shows, clothes, jewellery and (increasingly) souvenirs. Themed shopping streets also provide great plunder, among them Yuanling Street for shoes, Xinyi Road for sports gear, Dihua Street and Huashi Street for Chinese handicrafts and Buddha statues, and American Street for hip-hop clothes and bling. Further afield While most shore excursions head into Taipei, some do take you to attractions on Taiwan's north coast such as Buddhist monasteries, Shifen Waterfall and the hot springs of Yangmingshan National Park, where you can wallow in milk-coloured, mildly sulphuric waters. Yehliu Geopark has an array of odd coastal rock formations that look like giant mushrooms, and one supposedly like the head of an Egyptian queen. None of these sights are extraordinary, so stick to Taipei or explore Keelung on your own.
The Age
29-04-2025
- The Age
Port guide: Keelung, Taiwan
Artwork-adorned Maritime Plaza near the cruise terminals is a favourite with strolling local families. From there Keelung dissolves into raucous streets lined by eclectic shops and rough-edged eateries. Stop by Dianji Temple for a goggle at its ornate statues and carvings representing mythical sea creatures. The town's famous Miaokou street market is a magnet for foodies. Stalls have English signs announcing specialities such as oyster omelettes, beef noodles, braised pork, or soup dumplings. Don't miss If you haven't been to Taiwan before, you ought to head 30 kilometres inland to Taipei, the focus of most shore excursions, but easily navigated independently. It combines the ultra-contemporary with living Chinese traditions often absent on the mainland. Top sights include Taipei 101 skyscraper and its observation platform, memorial halls to Chiang Kai-shek and revolutionary leader Sun Yat-Sen, and temples that combine Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian elements. The best are Longshan Temple and Qingshan Temple. The National Palace Museum houses the world's greatest collection of Chinese art. Get active Keelung is humid and often rainy, and its crowded concrete is hardly conducive to exercise. Get some early-morning treadmill work done in the ship's gym before you disembark. One good walk, however, takes you from the port uphill to Zhongzheng Park, crowned by a Buddhist temple and enormous statue of goddess Guan Yin. The complex is kitsch and colourful, and you get good harbour views. Loading Retail therapy Shoppers should get themselves into Taipei, one of the world's best cities for street markets such as Jianguo Jade Market, Guanghua Computer Market for all things electronic, and Chinese Handicraft Mart for porcelain, scroll paintings, lacquer boxes, silk clothes and modern Chinese kitsch. Shilin Street market is famous for its evening food but in the daytime sells shows, clothes, jewellery and (increasingly) souvenirs. Themed shopping streets also provide great plunder, among them Yuanling Street for shoes, Xinyi Road for sports gear, Dihua Street and Huashi Street for Chinese handicrafts and Buddha statues, and American Street for hip-hop clothes and bling. Further afield While most shore excursions head into Taipei, some do take you to attractions on Taiwan's north coast such as Buddhist monasteries, Shifen Waterfall and the hot springs of Yangmingshan National Park, where you can wallow in milk-coloured, mildly sulphuric waters. Yehliu Geopark has an array of odd coastal rock formations that look like giant mushrooms, and one supposedly like the head of an Egyptian queen. None of these sights are extraordinary, so stick to Taipei or explore Keelung on your own.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
AP PHOTOS: Lunar New Year prayers and incense usher in the Year of the Snake
Wisps and clouds of smoke rose into the air at Buddhist and Daoist temples around Asia on Wednesday as people lit incense to pray for good luck in the Year of the Snake. From Vietnam to Japan, ethnic Chinese flocked to temples across north and Southeast Asia on what was the Lunar New Year, the first day of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. They gave a small donation for a bundle of incense sticks and lit them. Some held them above their heads and bowed several times to the deity in the temple. Then they stuck the sticks into sand or a similar material in often ceremonial vessels outside the main hall, the smoke wafting up and intensifying as more people came and went. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. In Thailand, some also held red tea-light-size candles in small glasses, with rows more spread out in front of them, to worship the gods at the temple. The prayers began late on the eve of the New Year in Hong Kong, where people annually line up at a Taoist temple to try to be the first to put their incense sticks into the stands at 11 p.m. The earliest to get their incense sticks and prayers in are believed to stand the best chance of having them answered. Lana Wong, a celebrity who attracts attention every year with her outfits, wore two stuffed toy snakes around her neck as she planted her incense sticks. 'I pray for world peace, jobs for everyone and good health to everyone,' she said. Similar scenes played out after daylight in the morning at the Lama Temple in Beijing, a historic Tibetan Buddhist institution that draws large crowds on the first day of every lunar year. 'We want to get rid of all the bad things and physical diseases from the past year and embrace the start of the new year,' said Niu Qingshan, who came to the Lama Temple from neighboring Hebei province. The Lunar New Year is also a time for 'temple fairs' in China, with performances by lion dance troupes and booths selling snacks, toys for children and other traditional and non-traditional items. A sea of people, bundled up against the winter cold on a bright sunny day, filled Ditan park in Beijing for the fair at what was the Temple of Earth, a royal altar in imperial times. Elsewhere in the world, processions with colorful dragon figures wove through the air at Lunar New Year events in Moscow and Havana, while people in the Indian city of Kolkata — home to an ethnic Chinese community — gathered in restaurants to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
The Independent
29-01-2025
- General
- The Independent
AP PHOTOS: Lunar New Year prayers and incense usher in the Year of the Snake
Wisps and clouds of smoke rose into the air at Buddhist and Daoist temples around Asia on Wednesday as people lit incense to pray for good luck in the Year of the Snake. From Vietnam to Japan, ethnic Chinese flocked to temples across north and Southeast Asia on what was the Lunar New Year, the first day of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. They gave a small donation for a bundle of incense sticks and lit them. Some held them above their heads and bowed several times to the deity in the temple. Then they stuck the sticks into sand or a similar material in often ceremonial vessels outside the main hall, the smoke wafting up and intensifying as more people came and went. In Thailand, some also held red tea-light-size candles in small glasses, with rows more spread out in front of them, to worship the gods at the temple. The prayers began late on the eve of the New Year in Hong Kong, where people annually line up at a Taoist temple to try to be the first to put their incense sticks into the stands at 11 p.m. The earliest to get their incense sticks and prayers in are believed to stand the best chance of having them answered. Lana Wong, a celebrity who attracts attention every year with her outfits, wore two stuffed toy snakes around her neck as she planted her incense sticks. 'I pray for world peace, jobs for everyone and good health to everyone,' she said. Similar scenes played out after daylight in the morning at the Lama Temple in Beijing, a historic Tibetan Buddhist institution that draws large crowds on the first day of every lunar year. 'We want to get rid of all the bad things and physical diseases from the past year and embrace the start of the new year,' said Niu Qingshan, who came to the Lama Temple from neighboring Hebei province. The Lunar New Year is also a time for 'temple fairs' in China, with performances by lion dance troupes and booths selling snacks, toys for children and other traditional and non-traditional items. A sea of people, bundled up against the winter cold on a bright sunny day, filled Ditan park in Beijing for the fair at what was the Temple of Earth, a royal altar in imperial times. Elsewhere in the world, processions with colorful dragon figures wove through the air at Lunar New Year events in Moscow and Havana, while people in the Indian city of Kolkata — home to an ethnic Chinese community — gathered in restaurants to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
AP PHOTOS: Lunar New Year prayers and incense usher in the Year of the Snake
Wisps and clouds of smoke rose into the air at Buddhist and Daoist temples around Asia on Wednesday as people lit incense to pray for good luck in the Year of the Snake. From Vietnam to Japan, ethnic Chinese flocked to temples across north and Southeast Asia on what was the Lunar New Year, the first day of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. They gave a small donation for a bundle of incense sticks and lit them. Some held them above their heads and bowed several times to the deity in the temple. Then they stuck the sticks into sand or a similar material in often ceremonial vessels outside the main hall, the smoke wafting up and intensifying as more people came and went. In Thailand, some also held red tea-light-size candles in small glasses, with rows more spread out in front of them, to worship the gods at the temple. The prayers began late on the eve of the New Year in Hong Kong, where people annually line up at a Taoist temple to try to be the first to put their incense sticks into the stands at 11 p.m. The earliest to get their incense sticks and prayers in are believed to stand the best chance of having them answered. Lana Wong, a celebrity who attracts attention every year with her outfits, wore two stuffed toy snakes around her neck as she planted her incense sticks. 'I pray for world peace, jobs for everyone and good health to everyone,' she said. Similar scenes played out after daylight in the morning at the Lama Temple in Beijing, a historic Tibetan Buddhist institution that draws large crowds on the first day of every lunar year. 'We want to get rid of all the bad things and physical diseases from the past year and embrace the start of the new year,' said Niu Qingshan, who came to the Lama Temple from neighboring Hebei province. The Lunar New Year is also a time for 'temple fairs' in China, with performances by lion dance troupes and booths selling snacks, toys for children and other traditional and non-traditional items. A sea of people, bundled up against the winter cold on a bright sunny day, filled Ditan park in Beijing for the fair at what was the Temple of Earth, a royal altar in imperial times. Elsewhere in the world, processions with colorful dragon figures wove through the air at Lunar New Year events in Moscow and Havana, while people in the Indian city of Kolkata — home to an ethnic Chinese community — gathered in restaurants to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
