Kaiyuan Temple Introduction
Kaiyuan Temple is dedicated to the main deity, Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), and is located in Chailin Village, Xikou Township, Chiayi County. The temple's most notable feature is a statue of Koxinga, which is claimed to be the tallest statue of Zheng Chenggong in the world, standing at 172 feet, equivalent to seven stories high. As you drive into Xikou Township, you can see this enormous statue from a distance, making it a landmark of the area. The temple was completed in December 1995 and is open to the public for free. Inside the statue of Koxinga is the Koxinga Memorial Museum, which exhibits artifacts related to Zheng Chenggong's life, his sacrifices for the nation, calligraphy, weapons, decrees from the Qing government, and the Dutch surrender documents, all of which have significant historical value. The fifth to ninth floors of the Koxinga Memorial Museum are open to visitors for free. The layout includes a model of the Kaiyuan Temple and a conference hall on the first floor; the second floor features models of the Kaiyuan Temple, Shijing Ancestor's Calendar, the Zheng family ancestral home in Zhangzhou, the model of Zheng Chenggong's birth home in Japan, and a model of the Dutch surrender; the third floor displays artifacts from Zheng Chenggong's military career; the fourth floor showcases Zheng Chenggong's naval fleet; the fifth floor is the artifact museum; the sixth floor is the rural cultural museum; while the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors serve as observation decks. Four large cannons from Zheng Chenggong's era and other related artifacts are displayed outside the first floor, making it one of Taiwan's tourist attractions. Kaiyuan Temple can be reached in about ten minutes from the Dalin Interchange on the highway, situated in a small countryside town in the western Taiwan plain, specifically in Chailin Village, Xikou Township, Chiayi County. To the northeast lies the Sanjie Creek, and to the north, the Tuhui Creek converges on the right side of the temple. The Beigang River flows southwest to the sea. During the rainy season, the rivers rush vigorously while during normal times, they flow gently, presenting a different charm.
