Li General Temple (Shanglin General Temple) Introduction
The Li General Temple is located in the Shanglin Village of Little Kinmen, near the two major lakes of Little Kinmen - Xihu Lake and Lingshui Lake. It is primarily dedicated to General Li, City God, and Guardian God, and was built during the mid-Ming Dynasty. It is said that General Li led the military and civilians to cultivate and develop lands in Little Kinmen, showing compassion for people and animals, possessing divine powers to summon tree leaves as soldiers, and successfully repelling pirates, which won him the hearts of the people. Thus, descendants built the temple at the site where he landed and at locations frequently disturbed by pirates, both to exorcise evil and to express gratitude for his virtuous deeds. It is said that during the 823 Artillery Bombardment, Little Kinmen was bombarded with shells, yet the Li General Temple remained unscathed, which is remarkable. In front of the temple, there are large banyan trees and Casuarina trees, making it a suitable place for shade in the summer while enjoying the sea view. In front is Shanglin Beach, which features a pavilion and a viewing bridge, making it the best spot to overlook the mainland, with a wide field of vision where one can also see the islands of Dadlan, Erdan, and Lion Island.
