Kaiyuan Temple Introduction
The main deity worshiped at Kaiyuan Temple is King Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong). It is located in Chailin Village, Xikou Township, Chiayi County. The biggest feature of Kaiyuan Temple is the statue of King Koxinga, which is claimed to be the world's tallest, standing at 172 feet, equivalent to a seven-story building. As you drive into Xikou Township, you can see this giant statue from afar, making it a landmark of the area. Kaiyuan Temple was completed in December 1995 and is free for the public to visit. The interior of the statue of King Koxinga houses the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Museum, where exhibits showcase artifacts and historical materials related to Zheng Chenggong's life, his sacrifices for the country, calligraphy, weapons, imperial edicts from the Qing government, and the Dutch capitulation documents, among others, which hold considerable historical value. The fifth to ninth floors of the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Museum are open for free visits; the first floor features a model of the Saint King and a conference hall; the second floor displays models of Kaiyuan Temple, lithographic calendars, the ancestral home of the Zheng family in Zhangzhou, and models of the birthplace of Zheng Chenggong in Japan, as well as a Dutch surrender model; the third floor showcases military artifacts from Zheng Chenggong's time; the fourth floor displays the naval fleet of Zheng Chenggong; the fifth floor is the Museum of Artifacts; the sixth floor is the Rural Museum; and the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors serve as viewing platforms. Outside the first floor, four cannons from the time of Zheng Chenggong and other related artifacts are displayed, making it one of Taiwan's tourist attractions. To reach Kaiyuan Temple, it takes about ten minutes by car from the Dalin Interchange on the highway to Xikou. It is situated in a rural town in the western flatlands of Taiwan, specifically in Chailin Village, Xikou Township, Chiayi County. To the northeast, it is adjacent to the San Die Stream, while the Huwei Stream converges with another stream to the right side of the temple. The Beigang River flows southwest to the sea. During the rainy season, the rivers rush vigorously, flowing swiftly, while during normal times, the water meanders slowly, presenting a different kind of scenery.
