TAIPEI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 10,000 believers of Taoism from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong gathered here Thursday to pay tribute to Lyu Dongbin, a Taoist deity over 1,000 years ago.

The worshipping ceremony took place at the Chih-Nan Temple in suburban Taipei, featuring religious music, offerings and a religious assembly co-hosted by the Baiyun Temple in Beijing and the Fung Ying Seen Koon temple in HK.

Since 2008, the three temples have been hosting events in turn in an effort to promote religious exchange and cultural and charity activities.

Chen Chongkui, a senior Taoist priest from Beijing Baiyun Temple, said Taoism in the mainland and Taiwan is derived from the same origin, and co-hosting events can help believers jointly inherit the Chinese culture and promote the development of Taoism.