Wat Kamphaeng Laeng 12th Century Khmer “sandstone wall temple”
The Wat Kamphaeng Laeng is a Khmer sanctuary in the town of Phetchaburi. It is the most Southern of the Khmer temples in Thailand and the oldest structure in Phetchaburi town. The sanctuary is fairly small and not as impressive as better known Khmer temples as Phimai or Phanom Rung in North East Thailand.
The temple, which name translates to “sandstone wall temple” was founded towards the end of the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, one of Angkor’s greatest Kings, at the time when the Khmer empire stretched out as far West as Burma and as far South as the Malay peninsula. Wat Kamphaeng Laeng was constructed as a Hindu sanctuary and later converted into a Buddhist sanctuary.
Originally there were five laterite prangs. The largest prang standing at the center is surrounded by four smaller prangs at the corners. Today four remain, one of the prangs has collapsed.
It’s a small temple but the history of ...
The National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine 國民革命忠烈祠 is a shrine in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, dedicated to the war dead of the Republic of China.
Built on Chingshan Mountain and overseeing the Keelung River in Taipei's Zhongshan District in 1969, the Martyrs' Shrine recalls the architecture of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing's Forbidden City. The structure houses the spirit tablets of about 390,000 persons killed, among other engagements, during the Xinhai Revolution, Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War, Chinese Civil War, and the First and Second Taiwan Strait Crises.
A changing of the honor guard from the various branches of the Republic of China Military, similar to the rituals at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, take place at the shrine every hour from 9:00-5:00 pm.
Although the Martyrs' Shrine is located in Taiwan, most of the soldiers were born in mainland China. Taiwan was ruled by Japan throughout World War II, ...
Baoan Temple 保安宮
Baoan Temple is dedicated to Baosheng Emperor (保生大帝). There’s a story about him curing a dragon’s injured eye and moving the stick away from a tiger’s throat, making Baosheng Emperor the god of medicine.
The early Chinese immigrants brought him from Fujian in the 16th century. When they first moved to Taipei, they suffered from the plague here. The whole purpose of building the temple and worshipping Baoan Emperor was to stop the plague.
Baoan Temple started as a small wooden shrine in 1742 and later expanded to the size it is now. In 1995, the temple was under renovation. The construction managed to repair its exterior and preserve its artworks including dragon columns and the fragmented ceramic at the same time. As a result, Baoan Temple was given the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Culture Heritage Conservation.
Getting there is easy. Take the MRT Red Line to Yuanshan Station then take exit #2. From there it’s a short 5-10 minute walk to the ...
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall 國立中正紀念堂
The most prominent historical landmark in Taiwan, the CKS Memorial Hall was erected in honor and memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China, and was opened in 1980 as part of a national park and gathering area.
The name of the square is officially Liberty Square (自由廣場), as seen above the front gate, however the name change was politically motivated and most people in practice still refer to the entire complex as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
The changing of the guards is a popular thing to see when you visit here.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall 國立中正紀念堂 - Changing of the Guards - Full Video - Taipei Taiwan 2026
