Dragon and Tiger Pagodas

The place in a few words

On the shores of Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung’s Zuoying district, the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are two seven-storey towers built in 1976, known for their vivid colours and enormous animal sculptures. According to tradition, you enter through the dragon’s mouth and leave through the tiger’s to ward off bad luck and welcome good fortune.

What we loved

We’ve visited so many pagodas during our travels in Asia, but these really stand out! Their colours, architecture and especially the giant animal mouths used as entrances and exits make the visit quite unusual. We also loved the setting, with the pagodas reflected in the water and plenty of other temples and monuments around the lake.

Our tip

If you can, visit twice: during the day to appreciate their bright colours in natural light, then again in the evening when they’re illuminated. And don’t stop at the two pagodas! Take a walk along Lotus Pond to discover the other temples, pavilions and statues that are well worth seeing too.