Lotus Pond (Chinese: 蓮池潭) is an artificial lake and popular tourist destination on the east side of Zuoying (左營) District in Kaohsiung (高雄), Taiwan. Opened in 1951, it is famous for the lotus plants and the numerous temples around the lake, including Pei Chi Pavilion (北極亭) and Chi Ming Palace (啟明堂).
Pei Chi Pavilion honors the Daoist deity Xuan Wu (玄武) under the honorific ‘God-Emperor of the North Pole’. According to legend, Xuan Wu spoke through mediums to order the building of this pavilion.
The pavilion itself is 72 meters tall and made from grout, it claims to have the highest water statues in Southeast Asia. The place of worship and office of the temple is under the statue.
Located in the west and facing the east, Chi Ming Palace was rebuilt in 1973 as a three-story, palace-style grand architecture; it is the most spectacular temple by Lotus Pond.
There is a Nine-Dragon Wall (九龍壁) inside the temple, the colors of the wall is exaggeratedly vivid, looks so funny.
Chi Ming Palace is mainly for the worship of the two sages, Confucius (孔子) and Lord Guan (關帝). The interior decoration of the temple is extremely luxurious and exquisite, not sure if the deities will like it.
