City God Temple

Top choice


This is the spiritual centre of Chiayi and is dedicated to the City God. First constructed in 1715, many of the best parts of the temple hail from a 1941 reconstruction. Look for the gorgeous spiderweb plafond (decorative) ceiling and two rows of lively cochin (brightly coloured, glazed ceramic) figures on the walls of the main hall.

The traditional double-eave roof sports elegant swallowtail ridges and colourful figures in jiǎnniàn (mosaic-like temple decoration). You can check it out from the upper floors of the back annexe.

It's a 1.3km walk from Chiayi Bus Station.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Ming Yuan Pharmacy

0.41 MILES

Ming Yuan was a pharmacy; now it's a shrine to Taiwan's indigenous flora. Owner Mr Tsai has managed to cram every corner of the tiny shop with unusual…

2. Alishan Forest Railway Chiayi Garage

0.53 MILES

The tree-lined garage is actually a park with an assortment of old steam locomotives. Train buffs and kids alike will love it. Look for the SL13 (built in…

3. Museum of Old Taiwan Tiles

0.6 MILES

An old timber house is the lovely setting for this museum that throws light on the history and preservation of Taiwan's old tiles. The gorgeous patterns…

4. Prison Museum

0.64 MILES

Offering a taste of life behind bars, free admission to this museum includes an hour-long guided tour, which is repeated four times per day Tuesday to…

5. Chiayi Cultural Center

0.68 MILES

The Chiayi Municipal Cultural Center comprises a concert hall, a library, the Chiayi Municipal Museum, and the Koji Ceramic Museum in its basement. It's…

6. Koji Ceramic Museum

0.68 MILES

A museum dedicated to cochin (koji), a low-fired, brightly coloured glaze style of ceramic traditionally used for temple decoration. It’s in the basement…

7. Chiayi Park

0.75 MILES

This huge park is a repository of the natural and urban history of the city, offering old trees, landscaped hills, a moat, Qing-dynasty stelae, a…

8. Togo Rural Village Art Museum

8.23 MILES

This museum comprises two-dozen galleries and workshops housed in courtyard homes in Tugou village. Most are free to visit, but during special exhibitions…