In the south of Taiwan, in the city of Kaohsiung, lies a whimsical world.
Lotus Lake is a man-made lake which is quite famous for the fanciful sights surrounding the area.
The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are the more popular attractions. According to a Chinese saying, entering through the dragon’s mouth and exiting from the tiger’s will bring one good luck and reverse bad fortune. If you visit, make sure to follow the instructions on the sign (if you can read Chinese!) or just go where the pointing hand directs. Otherwise, you might bring doom upon yourself; your good fortune snatched away for having entered through the mouth of the tiger!
Inside the bodies of the dragon and tiger, the painted walls tell tales of some 24 obedient sons in China. They also depict images encouraging visitors to perform good deeds so as to escape the punishment of hell.
After spending time admiring the Pagodas, tourists can explore the rest of the beautiful lake and take in the many temples and Spring and Autumn Pavilions. The Spring and Autumn Pavilions are dedicated to the Chinese God of War–Kuan Kong. At the entrance to the Pavilions, the Goddess of Mercy–Kuan Yin, rides a writhing dragon. Not sure who those guys next to her are…
Connected to the Spring and Autumn Pavilion sits the Temple of Enlightenment.
The area has a story-book feel and a relaxing ambiance. It’s a perfect complement to the bustling city of Kaohsiung–when the crowds and buildings become claustrophobic, weary travelers can escape to the serenity of Lotus Lake.