Yuli Xietian Temple Introduction
Yuli Hsietian Temple is the first established temple in Hualien County. Built in the first year of the Guangxu era (1875), it has a history of over 130 years. In the 40th year of the Republic of China, it suffered significant damage due to an earthquake and was then rebuilt to its current appearance. During the Qing Dynasty, the general of the Central Route Flying Tiger Army, Wu Guangliang, led his troops through the Batongguan Ancient Trail and encountered a plague at Pushi Pavilion (an ancient name for Yuli). To ease the morale of his troops, he specially built the Hsietian Temple and personally crafted the plaque "Houshan Baozhang," which has become a treasure of the temple. Today, Yuli Hsietian Temple serves as the spiritual center for the local residents. The temple primarily worships Guan Sheng Di Jun, the deity Wu Guangliang prayed to for blessings. The two most important annual celebrations are the Guan Di Shengsheng birthday celebration on June 24th and the Zhongyuan Festival on July 15th. Visiting Hsietian Temple offers a glimpse of a traditional worship center and the core of everyday life in Yuli Township. As development in the eastern region has been slower, the historical centers of belief for Han people are not as long-standing, making it rare to find century-old temples. This is definitely a place worth visiting to experience the unique charms of eastern temples.
