Yuli Xietian 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 suffered significant damage due to an earthquake and was rebuilt to its current appearance. During the Qing Dynasty, General Wu Guangliang led Qing soldiers through the Batongguan Ancient Trail, and upon reaching Pushi Pavilion (an ancient name for Yuli), a plague broke out. To boost the morale of his troops, he specially constructed Xietian Temple and personally wrote the plaque "Houshan Protect," which has become a treasured relic of the temple. Yuli Xietian Temple has also become the center of faith for the townspeople. The temple primarily worships Emperor Guan, the deity Wu Guangliang prayed to for blessings at that time. The two most important annual celebrations are the June 24th celebration of Emperor Guan’s birthday and the July 15th Zhongyuan Festival. Visiting Xietian Temple allows one to see a traditional worship center, which is also the core of daily life in Yuli Township. As the eastern region was developed later, the history of Han religious centers is relatively short, making it rare to see century-old temples; a visit here offers a chance to experience the unique charm of eastern temples.
