Qishan Tianhou Temple Introduction
In the 1700s, the early settlers sought peace and spiritual solace by inviting the goddess Mazu from Meizhou, mainland China, to Fan Shu Liao (the former name of Qishan). Local people worshiped the holy site and shared stories of miraculous events, leading many residents to collectively fund the construction of a temple, which was completed in 1824, nearly 200 years ago. Inside the temple, there is an "Feng Xian" monument that documents the settlement's efforts to eliminate banditry, along with two monuments about the reconstruction funded by the community, making them valuable historical resources for researching Qishan's development. The Qishan Tianhou Temple, with its year-round strong incense offerings, is the only remaining temple from the Qing dynasty in the Qishan area and serves as the most important religious center for the people of Qishan. Due to the abundance of incense offerings, the face of the Mazu statue has become dark and shiny from the smoke. The temple features simple and elegant stone carvings, while the wood carvings and bronze sculptures are adorned with exquisite colors, making it a must-visit attraction for tourists coming to Qishan.
