Zuoying Yuandi Temple, Kaohsiung

Before you leave Lotus Lake, there’s one final temple to see, Zuoying Yuandi. This is built in a similar style to the other two, depicting images from Taoist mythology including colourful dragons and impressive warrior gods. Like the others, entrance to this temple is free. You’ll find it towards Xin Zuoying Station at the north end of the lake. Worth a stop!

This gigantic statue at Lotus Pond is of a powerful Taoist deity whose name means God Almighty of the Mysterious Heavens. He is also known as Xuan Wu (玄武; Mysterious Warrior) and in Hong Kong as Emperor of the North (北帝; Pak Tai), and is usually presented barefoot with one foot on a serpent and the other on a tortoise – two monsters wreaking havoc on Earth that the deity, originally a prince, is believed to have subdued. ***PH***