Houliao Thirty People Temple Introduction
The origins of the Thirty People Temple, according to the inscription within the temple, date back to 1622 when the Dutch dispatched naval ships to invade Magong. Thirty-six residents of Hujing Islet took to small boats to fight back but were outnumbered and all perished. The villagers found them at two seaside locations and buried them on the spot, later building the "Nanpu Temple" for worship, commonly known as the Thirty People Temple. The appearance seen today is the result of reconstruction funded by devotees in 2017. In front of the Thirty People Temple, there is a tidal zone, which is a popular spot for people to dig for thick-shelled clams during low tide. Next to it, there is a bike path where visitors can enjoy the sea view and appreciate the large sculpture "Hi Mouse" created by artist Hung Yi. The name "hi mouse" plays on the Taiwanese pronunciation of dolphin, which is "hai shu" or "sea pig." This sculpture merges the image of a dolphin with that of a mouse in a blue-and-white porcelain style, depicting Penghu's distinctive attractions, flora, and fauna on its surface, with the words "hi" and "mouse" on its ears. Beside the Hi Mouse, there is also a circular tile mosaic entitled "Pengpai Youqing" created by artist Huang Bo-Wei, featuring Penghu characteristics like Tithonia diversifolia, cacti, and stone weirs. Additionally, a noteworthy site to visit in Houliao is the Shigandang at Weiling Temple. According to legend, during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, there were disturbances caused by monsters in the Fengkengkou area between Houliao and Tongliang. In 1842, the Emperor Baosheng enshrined at Weiling Temple suggested establishing a stone tablet inscribed with "Chimei Wangliao," which translates to charms and demons, to quell the evil. This stone tablet is one of the few in Penghu that records a specific date.
