Longhu Ta in Kaohsiung, dragon and tiger pagodas on Lotus Pond
Published on 09/08/2026 at 13:14 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Longhu Ta in Kaohsiung brings a pair of brightly coloured pagoda towers together with giant dragon and tiger figures on the shore of Lotus Pond, creating a striking piece of late twentieth-century temple architecture in southern Taiwan. Built in 1976 in Zuoying District, the complex stands over the water as one of the most distinctive religious structures around this artificial lake.
Pagoda towers rising from the lake
Longhu Ta centres on two multi-storey pagoda towers standing on platforms set out over the water near the shore of Lotus Pond in Zuoying District, a northern part of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.Dragon and Tiger Pagodas Each tower is associated with a single guardian figure, so that the pair reads as a composition of pagoda and animal set against the lake surface.
The towers themselves rise to seven storeys, reaching above the surrounding promenades and temple roofs and giving elevated views across Lotus Pond and the pavilions that line its edges.twin towers of seven stories Their pagoda form draws on established Chinese architectural traditions, with stacked roofs and repeating balconies, while their position over the water makes them read as vertical landmarks rising from the lake rather than from solid ground.platforms set out over the water
Dragon and tiger guardians in vivid colour
In front of the pagodas stand the two animals that give Longhu Ta its name: a dragon figure paired with one tower and a tiger figure paired with the other.each tower is linked with a single animal figure The dragon and tiger are rendered on a monumental scale, their bodies forming extended structures that stretch from the shore towards the pagodas.
The animals are painted in bright colours that stand out against the tiled surfaces and the green water of Lotus Pond, echoing Taiwanese folk religious expression of the 1970s.colour palette and playful dragon and tiger figures Their placement at the front of the complex turns the approach to the towers into a walk through sculpted bodies, with temple mosaics and decorative details continuing the visual motif along the way.
Lotus Pond and the temple landscape of Zuoying
Longhu Ta stands beside Lotus Pond, also known as Lotus Lake, in Bidong Village in Zuoying District, north of central Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.Bidong Village, Zuoying District Lotus Pond is an artificial lake lined with temples and pavilions, forming a recognised scenic area of shrines, bridges and waterfront promenades.Lotus Pond scenic area
The construction of Longhu Ta in 1976 added a late twentieth-century layer to this landscape, alongside older complexes connected by walkways around the lakeshore.built in 1976 as part of the broader Lotus Pond temple landscape From the upper levels of the towers, the view takes in nearby pavilions and temple roofs, setting the dragon and tiger pagodas within the wider religious and urban setting of Zuoying.
Visiting Longhu Ta: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Longhu Ta stands beside Lotus Pond in Bidong Village in Zuoying District, in the northern part of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, and is reached via city transport connections towards Zuoying.
- The towers rise from platforms over the lake, and approaches involve walkways and staircases inside the pagodas, with multiple flights of steps between levels.
- Lotus Pond is a lakeside temple area, so paths run along the waterfront and around shrine complexes, with sections exposed to sun and weather.
- The official language is Chinese and the currency is the New Taiwan dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Longhu Ta on social platforms
These links open searches for Longhu Ta on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Longhu Ta
Where is Longhu Ta in Kaohsiung?
Longhu Ta stands on the shore of Lotus Pond in Bidong Village, Zuoying District, in the northern part of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.
What can visitors expect at Longhu Ta?
Visitors encounter two seven-storey pagoda towers set over the lake, fronted by monumental dragon and tiger figures and surrounded by lakeside temple promenades.
What makes Longhu Ta distinctive among Lotus Pond temples?
The combination of multi-storey pagodas built in 1976 with brightly painted dragon and tiger guardians gives Longhu Ta a recognisable profile within the wider Lotus Pond temple landscape.
