NeiMen and Chisan Townships, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan

Over the last two months, I’ve been traveling to NeiMen, a remote township out in the former Kaohsiung County (now all a part of the Kaohsiung Special Municipality), for I am teaching elementary school English once every two weeks as a guest visitor, and the route also takes me through ChiSan, a larger township nearby. Both locales are NE of Kaohsiung City (KHH), Taiwan’s second largest metropolitan area. NeiMen is relatively well known for its annual Battle Array, taking place every spring, and there are a number of temples and other sights to visit. On the other hand, ChiSan has an Old Street area to explore on foot, an impressive Confucius Temple up on the hill overlooking town, and plenty of bananas, to boot! Both serve as pleasant getaways, being about an hour’s drive from KHH city. If you live in the city, or if you are visiting from overseas, you should give these two townships your time for a day, especially if you have a car. Feel free to drop me a line if you have further questions or need some help getting around there!

ChiSan Competition 12/1/2012

Battle Array Troupe from NeiMen

Aboriginal Artwork

One of a few dazzling temples in NeiMen

Ubiquitous Ornateness

Bamboo Everywhere

Countryside Prayer Altars (I really don’t know if locals would call this a temple!)

Seems like a friendly dragon…

Pineapple Fields

NeiMen’s Showcase Temple

NeiMen’s Temple from Afar

Local Renewal

Ornate!

Typically Ornate Temple Ceilings

Chisan’s Old Street Facades

Japanese Era Facades

Through the Ages…

Dragon Fountain

Such Detail!

If I didn’t live on the 14th floor of a building, I’d ask to buy this door for my home!