Chiayi City God Temple (National Historic Site). The City God, also known as Chenghuangye, is the guardian deity of the local area. The City God Temple is the spiritual center for the people of Chiayi, deeply connected to their lives since ancient times, with a thriving incense offering tradition. The City God, also known as Chenghuangye, is the guardian deity of the local area. The City God Temple is the spiritual center for the people of Chiayi, deeply connected to their lives since ancient times, with a thriving incense offering tradition. Established: In the 54th year of Kangxi (1715), nearly 300 years ago. Current construction: Rebuilt in the 11th year of Showa, completed in the 15th year of Showa (1940). The City God Temple was founded in the 54th year of Kangxi (1715 AD). It was renovated in the 10th year of Yongzheng (1732 AD). By the 29th year of Qianlong, due to the temple's dilapidated state and risk of collapse, the new magistrate Zhang Suoshou undertook extensive repairs. The current City God Temple was rebuilt under the direction of Master Wang Jinmu of the Quanzhou Xidi school, featuring magnificent architecture and a noble layout. Its woodcarving art is particularly distinctive. The Bagua (eight trigrams) caisson ceiling in the worship hall, and the dougong (bracket sets) in the main hall's entrance and secondary bays, are all assembled using mortise and tenon joints without a single nail or iron, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The City God Temple preserves over a dozen valuable stele and plaque artifacts from the Qing dynasty, including the "Taiyang Xianyou" plaque, the only one bestowed by an emperor to a City God Temple in Taiwan; the "Dao Hong Huayu" plaque donated by Prince Grand Tutor Wang Delu; the "Reconstruction of the City God Temple" stele erected by Magistrate Zhang Suoshou; a stele erected by Magistrate Fan Xueheng for incense and lamp funds; a large abacus donated by Gong Daonan of Jinjiang; a stele erected by Magistrate Wang Tinggan for the construction of the Yinling Hall; and the "He Sheng Zhuo Ling" plaque donated by Instructor Su Fengzao.
Address: 嘉義市東區吳鳳北路168號
Hours: 00:00–23:59
Chiayi