Information about Taoist Temple
The Taoist Temple
The Taoist Temple is one of the most visited non-Catholic shrines in Cebu. Located in Beverly Hills Subdivision in Lahug, this temple was built by Cebu's Chinese community in 1972 on a hillside 300 meters above sea level.
The temple is the perfect place for meditation and relaxation. It has a spacious balcony that provides a sweeping view of the city. If the sky is clear, you will get a chance to see Mactan and Bohol’s islands from a distance. Inside the temple complex, you can also find a chapel, souvenir shop, library, fountain, garden, and a wishing well.
How to get here:
From Cebu City, ride a jeep with the route code 04L. Ask the driver to drop you off on the road on the way to Taoist Temple. Afterward, you can ride a habal-habal (local term of a motorcycle for hire) or join a guided tour with transfers.
Best time to visit:
Taoist Temple is an all-year-round destination but is best seen during Cebu’s sunny season from March to May. The operating time of the temple is from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.
Is there an entrance fee to Taoist Temple?
What is the temple’s architecture and design?
On the edge of its pagoda-style roof stand some dragon statues, while the spandrels between the columns have red and green paintings of animals, suns, vines, and thorns. The gables have colorful images on them as well. There are red and white lanterns hanging from the eaves, while an old bell hangs from one corner of the porch.
What are some of the rituals in the Taoist Temple?
The first ritual is said to be about communicating with God with the use of a pair of kidney-like wooden blocks. In performing the ways, you will wash your hands, enter the chapel barefoot, light a joss stick, kneel, and then hold and drop two blocks. The position of the blocks on the ground is the answer to your prayer/wish.
If one of the blocks is flat and the other is half round, it means yes. If both blocks are half-round, it means no, and you have to come back some additional time. If both blocks are flat, it says maybe, and you have to make your question/wish simpler.
The other ritual is where devotees will climb 181 steps in the temple, representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures. The monks will also read the fortune of the devotees. This ritual is done only on Wednesdays and Sundays.
