An interesting legend exists as to why immigrants from Chuanchou on the China mainland chose the present site. About 200 years ago, a Chuanchou merchant stopped in Manka (as Wanhua was known at that time) on his way to Chinwei to buy rattan.
在民間流傳著下面的說法：二百多年前，由泉州來台的一個商人，有一天從艋舺要前往景尾方面採購藤材，經過當今龍山寺現址時，停下來略作休息。