Ciyun Temple Introduction
Ciyun Temple, located in Houlong and established for over 220 years, is the only Taoist temple in Miaoli County that preserves the most complete historical documents. Among the registered Tian Shang Sheng Mu (Mazu) temples in Taiwan, it is one of the oldest and most organized. With a history of more than 200 years, Ciyun Temple is the oldest temple in Houlong and boasts a significant collection of ancient artifacts, such as an ancient table from the Qianlong period and a plaque with the imperial seal of the Guangxu Emperor, which reads "Yutian Tonggong." The temple faces south, consisting of a main hall and two side chambers. The central hall enshrines Mazu, while the deities Tudigong and Zhunsheng Niangniang are worshipped in the left and right chambers respectively, drawing a large number of devotees. Every year during the Lantern Festival, Ciyun Temple hosts the fun and engaging "Shooting the Castle" folk activity, where a mini castle is hung on a ten-meter-long bamboo pole. Contestants throw self-ignited firecrackers into the castle's gates, aiming to trigger the pre-set explosives inside and win prizes from the organizers.
