Unique Taiwanese structure: A leaning temple likened to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

In Chiayi County, Taiwan (China), there is a unique temple dubbed the "Taiwanese Leaning Tower of Pisa." The temple, named Taihe Zhenxing, leans at a 45-degree angle and is attracting attention from tourists, being likened to the Taiwanese version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Prior to August 2009, the temple stood upright like all the other temples across the island. However, after Typhoon Morakot, the ground collapsed, causing the temple to gradually sink and suffer the most severe damage in its history.

The storm led to massive flooding and landslides. It was the most dangerous typhoon ever to hit the island in recorded history, causing heavy rains, massive mudflows, and severe flooding across Taiwan. Besides the immense damage, Typhoon Morakot also claimed hundreds of lives and caused geological damage to local infrastructure.

After the storm, Taihe Zhenxing Temple unexpectedly tilted 45 degrees, attracting the attention of many domestic and international tourists. The entire structure of the temple miraculously remained intact, despite the significant tilt.

By 2020, the Alishan National Scenic Area Management Office built an observation deck opposite the site for visitors to conveniently admire the view, but fewer people visited later due to Covid-19.

Taihe Zhenxing Temple, located off a trail, unexpectedly gained popularity after images of it were shared on social media. The way to take the photo is quite simple: just stand on the path in front of the temple, hold your phone straight, and lean forward for a picture that looks like Michael Jackson's dance move.

The Taihe Zhenxing Temple has recently become a major tourist attraction thanks to social media, with many people wanting to visit out of curiosity and to take photos like tourists at the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. The number of visitors has surged recently due to information shared on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The temple has become a unique check-in spot where people can pose for photos defying gravity.

Earlier this year, after photos and videos taken here went viral, Taihe Zhenxing Temple was even featured on national television and dubbed "Taiwan's Leaning Tower of Pisa".

Taihe Zhenxing is known to have been the site of major events such as coronations and celebrations during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

According to locals, despite being tilted, the temple stands "miraculously" firm. Taihe Zhenxing is located nearly 270 km from Taipei City. Visitors can travel by taxi, train, or bus. The train journey takes about 90 minutes, with tickets starting from $30. The bus journey takes longer, almost twice as long, but the tickets are cheaper, starting from $15.

Taiwan began reopening for tourism on October 13th, waiving mandatory quarantine requirements, but visitors are still required to self-monitor their health at their accommodation for 7 days. Visitors are also given four rapid test kits to test every two days at home, but are allowed to travel freely (unless they test positive).

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao