Houtong Shrine Introduction
The Houtsing Shrine was established in 1934 during the Japanese colonial period by Li Jianxing, the founder of the Ruizan Mining Company, and four others as a tribute of the "Ruizan Mining Industry Service Corps." During the Japanese rule, Houtsing was the top coal-producing mine in Taiwan for several consecutive years, playing a crucial role in supporting Taiwan's industrial fuel. Consequently, the population of the area steadily increased. In the late Showa era, during World War II, the Japanese government promoted the assimilation policy and the Kokumin movement, leading to the establishment of the Houtsing Shrine. Walking along the "Houtsing Hundred Steps" path to the shrine, the strong Japanese atmosphere creates an illusion for visitors of a time-space exchange in Japan, with the characters "奉獻" (dedication) clearly visible on the torii, reflecting the history and depth of the place.
