Chiayi City Chenghuang Temple

Chiayi City Chenghuang Temple

Chiayi City Chenghuang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Chiayi Chenghuang Temple is located on Wufeng North Road, Minzu Village, East District, Chiayi City, Chiayi County (formerly Zhuluo County, now Chiayi County), Taiwan. It was first built in the 54th year of the Kangxi reign (1715) by Zhou Zhongxuan, the magistrate of Zhuluo County during the Qing Dynasty. The main hall enshrines the Great Chenghuang (City God), a locally carved statue in Taiwan known for its intricate and solemn expression, and it enjoys flourishing incense offerings all year round.

Like other Chenghuang Temples in Taiwan, Chiayi Chenghuang Temple has undergone multiple renovations and reconstructions throughout history. In May of the 11th year of the Showa era (1936) during Japanese rule, Chiayi City Mayor Ito Eizo initiated a fundraising campaign. Local gentry and many benefactors donated over 90,000 Japanese yen to completely rebuild the old temple. Construction began the following year and was completed in October of the 15th year of Showa (1940). The rebuilt Chiayi Chenghuang Temple consists of four main sections: the entrance hall (San Chuan Dian), the worship pavilion, the main hall, and the rear hall. The structure faces west with its back to the east, and the main hall and rear hall flank the worship pavilion, forming a distinctive "I"-shaped floor plan. Its most notable features include the numerous bracket sets (dougong) installed in the main hall, the double-eaved roof style, and the intricately crafted bagua (eight trigrams) caisson ceiling in the worship pavilion. The brackets at the entrance and secondary spaces of the main hall are entirely crafted using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery without a single nail or rivet — a marvel of craftsmanship, solemn and majestic, making it well worth a visit.

In addition, the stone carvings inside Chiayi Chenghuang Temple, such as the dragon pillars, stone lions, and wall panels, as well as the paintings on the three-door six-panel screens, are all exquisitely detailed and vivid, offering visitors much to admire.

Chiayi City God Temple

Must-visit reason: One of Taiwan’s most famous Chenghuang Temples