Living Landmarks (TAIPEI Quarterly 2026 Summer Vol.44)Post date：2026-06-10
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TAIPEI #44 (2026 Summer)
Living Landmarks
Old and Beautiful Trees with a History
Text Twelli
Photos VISION
Big old trees growing beside temples are a common sight in Taiwan. Worshippers can often be found lingering in their shade, enjoying the tranquility and natural aesthetics they provide.
Tucked away in a quiet lane in Taipei's Guting neighborhood, the Changqing Banyan is one of Taipei 's most remarkable old trees. Officially named and listed by the city government, it had the largest trunk circumference among the 1,146 trees surveyed in 2001, measuring a remarkable 10 meters around. Estimated to be over 250 years old, it is now a registered protected tree.
Legend has it that the banyan once stood at the confluence of two waterways that were part of an important system of canals and irrigation ditches that played a major role in the cultivation of farmland in the Taipei Basin. It was right at the center of the Guting settlement, which was established by immigrants during the Qing dynasty.
Today, the tree can be seen behind Changqing Temple, a small place of worship dedicated to the Earth God. Its predecessor, a shrine dedicated to the Stone God, founded n 1758, was transformed into a proper temple in 1936 during the Japanese era.
The banyan spreads its prodigious canopy over the intersection of Jinjiang Street and the street's lane 18, its branches nearly touching the fourth floor of the building across the street. It is cherished by local residents, who ensure the tree is cared for whenever it suffers typhoon damage or shows signs of disease. A metal box at the base of the tree, containing incense sticks and water bottles, indicates that the faithful make offerings to the tree or its spirit.
Tree and temple have stood side by side for over two-and-a-half centuries, witnessing the slow transformation of a quiet farming settlement into a hidden-away quarter of a giant bustling city. Today, this remains a space where he past feels closer than the modern-city rush just out of sight and hearing around the corner.
🚩34, Jinjiang Street, Zhongzheng District; about a 3-minute walk from MRT Guting Station (Exit 2)
🔎
Changqing Banyan Tree | 長慶榕
Changqing Temple | 長慶廟
Guting | 古亭
Stone God | 石頭公
Living Landmarks
Old and Beautiful Trees with a History
Text Twelli
Photos VISION
Big old trees growing beside temples are a common sight in Taiwan. Worshippers can often be found lingering in their shade, enjoying the tranquility and natural aesthetics they provide.
Tucked away in a quiet lane in Taipei's Guting neighborhood, the Changqing Banyan is one of Taipei 's most remarkable old trees. Officially named and listed by the city government, it had the largest trunk circumference among the 1,146 trees surveyed in 2001, measuring a remarkable 10 meters around. Estimated to be over 250 years old, it is now a registered protected tree.
Legend has it that the banyan once stood at the confluence of two waterways that were part of an important system of canals and irrigation ditches that played a major role in the cultivation of farmland in the Taipei Basin. It was right at the center of the Guting settlement, which was established by immigrants during the Qing dynasty.
Today, the tree can be seen behind Changqing Temple, a small place of worship dedicated to the Earth God. Its predecessor, a shrine dedicated to the Stone God, founded n 1758, was transformed into a proper temple in 1936 during the Japanese era.
The banyan spreads its prodigious canopy over the intersection of Jinjiang Street and the street's lane 18, its branches nearly touching the fourth floor of the building across the street. It is cherished by local residents, who ensure the tree is cared for whenever it suffers typhoon damage or shows signs of disease. A metal box at the base of the tree, containing incense sticks and water bottles, indicates that the faithful make offerings to the tree or its spirit.
Tree and temple have stood side by side for over two-and-a-half centuries, witnessing the slow transformation of a quiet farming settlement into a hidden-away quarter of a giant bustling city. Today, this remains a space where he past feels closer than the modern-city rush just out of sight and hearing around the corner.
🚩34, Jinjiang Street, Zhongzheng District; about a 3-minute walk from MRT Guting Station (Exit 2)
🔎
Changqing Banyan Tree | 長慶榕
Changqing Temple | 長慶廟
Guting | 古亭
Stone God | 石頭公
Gallery
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