Bishanyan Kaizhang Shengwang Temple Introduction
Bitan Temple is located on Bihshan Mountain in Neihu. The temple enshrines Chen Yuan-Guang, a national hero of the Min people, along with his subordinates Generals Li Bo-Yao and Ma Ren. Chen Yuan-Guang is considered the guardian deity of Zhangzhou people, having opened up the region of Zhangzhou, Fujian during the late Tang dynasty, earning him the title "Holy King of Kaizhang." Bitan Temple is one of the largest temples dedicated to the Holy King of Kaizhang in Taiwan and is known for its vibrant incense offerings. According to legend, a person from Zhangzhou named Huang, who traveled to Taiwan for agriculture with his family, found this place to be an extraordinary site and hung incense offerings in a rock cave to pay homage before leaving. Later, the area was plagued by bandits, and in 1751, when the bandits were about to attack, they suddenly saw a brilliant light at the mountaintop, accompanied by the sound of war drums. It turned out that the deity residing in the incense had split into three stones, with the central stone representing the Holy King and the two side stones representing Generals Li and Ma. Rocks rolled down from the surrounding area, causing the bandits to flee. Local residents, hearing the news, came to worship and were indeed blessed by the deity, leading to the construction of a small stone temple. As the number of worshippers grew, the original small temple could not accommodate them, prompting the construction of the main hall at the original site. After several natural disasters and subsequent renovations, with the efforts of many local individuals, believers, and temple management committee members, it has been expanded to its current state. Perched high above, Bitan Temple not only overlooks the Taipei Basin but also offers stunning views of the winding Tamsui River, Liyu Mountain, and terraced fields from the front platform, with water and mountains reflecting each other beautifully. At night, visitors can gaze at the Taipei Basin, capturing the beauty of the night views of Taipei 101, the Grand Hotel, and Songshan Airport.
