Cihua Temple. Cihua Temple, located in Yuanbei Village of this township, primarily worships the Heavenly Holy Mother. Cihua Temple, formerly known as Chengwai Mazu, is one of Yuanli's two major religious centers, along with Shuntian Temple. Due to transportation development and urban expansion, Cihua Temple has surpassed Shuntian Temple in both architectural scale and number of devotees, becoming Yuanli's largest religious center. Cihua Temple was founded in the 53rd year of Kangxi (1714) north of today's Tianxia Road Market. In the 37th year of Qianlong (1772), Huang Zairong, Huang Yinglu, Chen Zhicheng, and others initiated its relocation to its current site. Cihua Temple primarily worships Mazu, with co-worship of Zhusheng Niangniang, Sanshan Guowang, Chenghuangye, Guansheng Dijun, Yuhuang Dadi, Xuantian Shangdi, Sanguan Dadi, Wenchang Dijun, Changsheng Dadi, Ziwei Dadi, Taisui Xingjun, and others. Cihua Temple currently houses many ancient artifacts. In addition to the "Pengshan Cihua Temple Stele Inscription," the Mazu statue on the shrine, the altar table, Qianliyan, Shunfeng'er, etc., are all original. There is also a stone censer from the 36th year of Qianlong (1771), an ancient wooden altar, an ancient plaque "Haiguo Biaoling" erected in the 38th year of Qianlong (1773), and an imperial plaque "Yu Tian Tong Gong" bestowed in the 10th year of Guangxu (1884) in recognition of Cihua Temple's Heavenly Holy Mother for her meritorious service in saving the emperor.
Address: 苗栗縣苑裡鎮中山路305號
Hours: 00:00–23:59
Miaoli