Kaiyuan Temple Introduction
Kaiyuan Temple is dedicated to the main deity, King Zheng Chenggong of Yanping, located in Chailin Village, Xikou Township, Chiayi County. The temple's most notable feature is a statue of King Zheng Chenggong, claimed to be the tallest in the world, standing at 172 feet, equivalent to a seven-story building. As you drive into Xikou Township, you can see this massive statue from afar, making it a landmark of the area. Kaiyuan Temple was completed in December 1995 and is open for free visits from the public. Inside the statue of King Zheng Chenggong, there are several floors designated as the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall, which displays artifacts and historical materials related to his growth and sacrifices for the nation, including his calligraphy, weapons, and imperial edicts from the Qing government, as well as the Netherlands' surrender documents, all of which hold significant historical value. The fifth to ninth floors of the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall are free for visitors, with the internal layout as follows: the first floor features a model of the Holy King and a meeting hall; the second floor displays models of the Kaiyuan Temple, the Shih-Ching ancestor's model, the Zheng family ancestral home in Zhangzhou, along with models of Zheng Chenggong's birthplace in Japan and the Dutch surrender; the third floor showcases artifacts from Zheng Chenggong's military era; the fourth floor is dedicated to Zheng Chenggong's naval fleet; the fifth floor serves as the museum; the sixth floor is the rural museum; and the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors are viewing platforms. Outside on the first floor, four cannons from Zheng Chenggong's era and other related artifacts are displayed, making it one of Taiwan's tourist attractions. To reach Kaiyuan Temple, it takes about ten minutes from the Dalin Interchange on the highway to Xikou. The temple is situated in a small rural town in the western part of Taiwan's vast plain, specifically in Chailin Village, Xikou Township, Chiayi County. The northeastern side is adjacent to the San Die River, while the Huwei River to the north converges on the right side of the temple, and the Beigang River flows southwest to the sea. During the rainy season, the rivers rush rapidly, while they flow gently at other times, presenting a different landscape.
