Yuli Xietian Temple Introduction
Yuli Xiangtian Temple is the first temple established in Hualien County. Built in the first year of the Guangxu era (1875), it has a history of over 130 years. In 1951, the temple suffered significant damage due to an earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt to its present form. During the Qing Dynasty, General Wu Guangliang led his troops through the Batongguan Ancient Trail and encountered an epidemic at Pushi Pavilion (an ancient name for Yuli). To calm the troops' spirits, he specially constructed the Xiangtian Temple and personally inscribed the plaque stating "Protection of the Back Mountain," which has now become a treasured relic of the temple. Yuli Xiangtian Temple has become a center of faith for the local community. 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 Sheng Shou Festival on June 24 and the Zhong Yuan Festival on July 15. Visiting Xiangtian Temple allows one to witness a traditional worship center that serves as the core of life for residents of Yuli Township. As development in Eastern Taiwan is relatively recent, the history of Han religious centers is short, making century-old temples rare. It is definitely worth visiting to experience the unique charm of Eastern Taiwanese temples.
