Lieutenant General Temple (Shanglin General Temple) Introduction
The Li General Temple is located in Shanglin Village, Little Kinmen, near the two major lakes of Little Kinmen - Xihu Lake and Lingshui Lake. It mainly worships General Li, City God, and Earth God, and was built in the mid-Ming Dynasty. According to legend, General Li led troops and civilians to Little Kinmen for livestock farming and land reclamation, showing kindness to the people and possessing supernatural powers, able to summon tree leaves as soldiers to successfully repel pirates, winning the hearts of the locals. Subsequently, temples were built at the places where he landed and the sites frequently invaded by pirates to ward off evil and commemorate his righteous deeds. It is said that during the Bombardment of Jinmen in 1958, Little Kinmen was bombarded heavily, yet the Li General Temple remained unscathed, which is quite remarkable. In front of the temple, there are large banyan trees and Casuarina equisetifolia, suitable for summer shade and cooling off, while also offering a view of the sea. In front is Shanglin Beach, where pavilions and viewing bridges have been constructed, making it the best spot to gaze toward the mainland, with a wide view that also allows sight of Dadan, Erdan, and Lion Islets.
