About this place
Guandu Temple was founded around 1712 AD to worship Mazu. It is the oldest Mazu temple in northern Taiwan. It was originally called Lingshan Temple and is located on the top of Lingshan Mountain. According to legend, in 1895 AD, three old banyan trees at the entrance of the temple died on the same night. Residents believed that Mazu might be warning them of a disaster. Sure enough, not long after, the Japanese army occupied Guandu and burned and killed everywhere. However, the residents were able to escape the disaster because they had taken precautions in advance. Guandu Palace has a long history. The dragon pillars, stone lions, wall carvings, etc. at the entrance of the palace are all very exquisite. Especially the door god is represented in relief, which has a very different charm from the ordinary painting method. Entering the hall, the caissons, brackets, beams and rafters on the top of the hall are rich in sculptures and paintings, which are very beautiful. The statue of Mazu, who has many legends, is sitting in the main niche with a kind expression, which forms a strong contrast with the appearance of her generals who are clairvoyant and have ears for the wind.