Ciyun Temple Introduction
Ciyun Temple, located in Houlong, has a history of over 220 years and is the only Taoist temple in Miaoli County that retains the most complete historical documents. Among all registered Mazu temples in Taiwan, it is one of the oldest and most organized Taoist temples. Ciyun Temple, which has been established for more than 200 years, is the oldest temple in Houlong and contains the largest number of ancient artifacts, such as an ancient table from the Qianlong period and a plaque with the imperial seal "Yu Tian Tong Gong" from Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. Ciyun Temple is oriented north-south and consists of a main hall and two side rooms. The main hall enshrines Mazu in the center, while the two sides worship Tudi Gong and the Zhuseng Niangniang, attracting a large number of worshippers. Every year during the Lantern Festival, Ciyun Temple holds a fascinating folk activity called "Shooting the Castle," where a mini castle is hung at the top of a ten-meter tall bamboo pole. Participants use self-ignited firecrackers to throw into the castle's front and back gates to trigger the explosives inside, and those who succeed can win a prize from the organizers.
