Chenghuang Temple Hualien

"Top, one of the greatest temples in Taiwan. Will come back again for sure."

Rennstahl Falkenjagd

"A place of great religious significance and divine power!

The Hualien City God Temple is located at No. 169, Chenggong Road, Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan. It is one of the oldest temples in Hualien City. Built in 1941 (Showa 9), it enshrines the City God. In 1943 (Showa 12), because the main deity worshipped was a Han Chinese deity, the Hualien Port Office of the Taiwan Governor-General's Office decided to demolish the temple. Locals preserved the Hualien City God Temple by relocating the statue of Zheng Chenggong, originally enshrined at the nearby Zheng Sheng Shrine, to the temple. (Wikipedia!) Next door are the Gongzheng Baozi (steamed buns) and Miaokou Red Tea & Cold Drinks shops, which are always crowded!

The downside is the lack of public restrooms! It's quite inconvenient!

Hualien City God Temple: An Introduction and History

Located in Hualien City, Hualien County, the Hualien City God Temple is the oldest temple in Hualien. Its architectural features, primarily brick carvings, add to its historical value. The donation lists on the left and right walls, with the earliest records dating back over seventy years, evoke a sense of historical reflection.

The History of Hualien City God Temple

The City God Temple was built in 1940 (Showa 9), and its main deity was the City God. In 1937 (Republic of China Year 26), the Japanese began their temple renovation project, extensively destroying temples and burning statues in Taiwan. Therefore, the Hualien City God Temple was among the temples targeted for demolition. However, the Zheng Sheng Shrine, located just a few dozen feet away, was not among the temples targeted for demolition because it enshrined Zheng Chenggong, a figure of Japanese descent. Later, locals, finding the Zheng Sheng Shrine dilapidated, suggested to the Japanese that the statue of Zheng Chenggong, the owner of the Zheng Sheng Shrine, be moved to the City God Temple, replacing the City God as the main deity.

To this day, the Hualien City God Temple has been preserved in its original state. The temple name for Koxinga (Guoxing Gongye), "Zheng Sheng Ci," was not actually used to move the City God from his position as the main deity in the main hall. Instead, the hat worn by the City God statue was altered to resemble Koxinga's hat, misleading people into believing that Koxinga was seated in the main deity's position. To prevent the Japanese from destroying other statues originally belonging to the City God Temple, residents took any movable statues and hid them in their homes. This included the statues of the Seventh and Eighth Lords, now seated beside the main gate. The restrictions imposed on the City God by the Japanese were lifted in 1949 when the Nationalist government relocated to Taiwan, and the City God Temple was restored to its former appearance. The statue of Zheng Chenggong has remained in the Hualien City God Temple ever since.

The architectural style of Hualien City God Temple

Inside the main hall of Hualien City God Temple, the caisson ceiling, also known as the "Dragon Well," is a canopy-shaped roof formed by brackets that continuously project inwards towards the center, creating a net-like structure. It is an octagonal or nearly circular "central mirror," and is called the Dragon Well because the central mirror is often painted with dragon designs. The original function of caisson ceilings was to support skylights. Later, due to their ornate decoration, craftsmen began to showcase their superb skills, resulting in the style we see today. Even more unique are the floors in the Hualien City God Temple, with patterns composed of auspicious motifs such as bats, gourds, and swords, rich in Chinese flavor. The Imperial Road, located between the two sets of steps in front of the Sanchuan Hall or the main hall, features stone slabs carved with dragons or dragon heads. Under the ancient feudal system, only the emperor could use this Imperial Road; ordinary people or sedan chair bearers would ascend from the east and west steps. Unfortunately, the Imperial Road no longer serves this function and is now merely decorative, unable to allow the public to experience the true atmosphere.

Compiled by Zheng Xuanyi

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熊霸天

"Visited on August 26, 2025. The Chenghuang Temple boasts majestic architecture and a vivid statue of Judge Wuchang. The temple complements two popular online shops, Miaokou Black Tea and Gongzheng Baozi, which have attracted significant pilgrims."

鍾道明