A visit to...

Diamond Hill, and the Chi Lin gardens and Nunnery.

The gardens are a green oasis in the middle of the city, very calm and serene. The brochure recommends that to do all of the gardens you need 2 hours, and it is correct. You do not want to hurry, there is so much to see and read about.

The Nunnery, obviously, is not open to visitors, however they have the most magnificent temple, with Buddha and his helpers elaborately carved and covered in gold leaf, exquisit. Unfortunatley you couldn't take any photos, so as a momento I bought the book giving the history of the gardens and the Nunnery.

Interestingly the gardens were only commisioned in 2003 and opened in 2006. The land was already owned by the City council, the gradens are surrounded by huge skyscrapers and flyovers, but somehow the noise does not seem to penetrate.