Yuli Hsietian Temple Introduction
Yuli Xietian 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 1951, it was significantly damaged by an earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt to its present form. During the Qing Dynasty, General Wu Guangliang led Qing troops through the Batongguan Ancient Trail and encountered a plague in a place known as Pushi Pavilion (an ancient name for Yuli). To pacify the troops, he specially built the Xietian Temple and personally wrote the plaque "Houshan Baozhang," which has since become a treasure of the temple. Yuli Xietian Temple has become the spiritual center for the townspeople. The temple primarily worships the deity Guan Sheng Di Jun, the god Wu Guangliang prayed to at that time. The two most important festivals held annually are the Guan Di Sheng Birthday Celebration on June 24 and the Zhongyuan Festival on July 15. Visiting Xietian Temple allows one to see a traditional worship center that is also the core of everyday life in Yuli Township. As the eastern region was developed later, the history of Han religious centers is not long, and opportunities to see century-old temples are rare. If you have the chance, be sure to visit and experience the unique charm of eastern temples.
