The Founding Mazu Temple(開基天后宮) was built in 1662 during the Ming Dynasty and was Taiwan’s earliest privately-built Mazu temple. As it is smaller than Da Tianhou Temple, it is often referred to by Tainanese as ‘small Mazu Temple.’ Despite its relatively small size, it still has a solemn atmosphere and exudes the awe-inspiring power of the goddess Mazu.

San Shan Guo Wang(Kings of three mountains;三山國王) belief is a folk belief that originated in Guangdong, China. Built in 1742, the temple is the only purely Cantonese style building in Taiwan. It enshrines the gods of the three mountains (respectively, the kings of Mt. Jin, Mt. Ming and Mt. Du; 巾山國王、明山國王、獨山國王). Apart from enshrining the gods of the three mountains, Han Wen Gong and Tian Shang Sheng Mu (韓文公與天上聖母) are also enshrined. On arriving at the entrance, it can be seen that the temple is different to most temples, without the bright colors and the walls painted in very low-key tones.

Located between Tainan Railway Station and Tainan Metropolitan Park, Xi Hua Hall(西華堂)is an oasis of quiet amidst the downtown bustle. Cross the busy road and enter a narrow alley, and it’s like a traveling to another world of tranquility. Built in 1750, Xi Hua Hall enshrines the San Bao Fo (Three Treasure Buddha). 

Built in 1684, the temple enshrines Xuan Tian Shang Di (Dark Heavenly Highest Deity). Beiji Temple’s historical evolution is closely connected to early salt field culture. For over 300 years, it has protected the local farmers and salt workers, and is the spiritual center for local people. In early times, the people of Yancheng would send dried salt from Pan Port(泮港) near Beiji Temple to Anping and other places. The river port is no longer visible but the complex arrangement of streets around the temple are clues to its former existence.

Located at Wanli in Tainan’s South District, Wannian Temple is the main belief center of the people of Wanli. It was built in 1729 and enshrines the San Fu Qian Sui gods Ye, Zhu, and Li (葉、朱、李三府千歲). The jianjiao sacrificial ceremony held every 12 years is a grand event that goes on for months. It features a procession in which the King Boat that the temple enshrines is carried around.

Wanhuang Temple(萬皇宮) was built in 1739 and enshrines lordsYe, Zhu and Li San Fu Qian Sui who conduct a “hunting tour on behalf of heaven” (代天巡狩), and is the local belief center. The temple has a palace architectural style and is large and magnificent. The paintings and carvings inside were all done by renowned craftsmen, with works by masters Pan Li-shui, Tsai Cao-ru and Shi Hong-yi to be seen. The King Boat Ceremony held every 12 years is a grand local event. A platform as large as the temple itself and a king boat are constructed.

Longshan Temple, commonly called Quantai Kaiji Sikunshen Temple(全台開基四鯤鯓龍山寺), was the earliest temple to enshrine Qingshui Zushi(清水祖師) in Taiwan. The temple was built in during the 19th year of the reign of the Yongli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in 1665. Military personnel and civilians from Anxi County in Quanzhou who came with Koxinga welcomed a statue of Qingshui Zushi from Anxi Qingshui Temple (安溪清水巖), and settlers from Pinghe County in Zhangzhou (漳州府平和縣) welcomed a statue of Sanping Zushi(三平祖師) from Sanping Temple.

Yancheng Tianhou Temple(鹽埕天后宮)was built in 1758 and enshrines Tian Shang Sheng Mu (Mazu,) with Wu Hui Zun Wang (武惠尊王) also enshrined in a secondary role. In the past, there was a harbor with many sailing ships behind the temple, nicknamed “sail harbor”; local residents transported salt from the salt fields to Anping from here, therefore the temple was nicknamed “Sail Harbor Tianhou Temple(帆港天后宮).” A stone stele outside the temple is also worshipped. Under Mazu’s instructions, the stele reached the spiritual state of an immortal, so the temple also has a special Lord Stone.

Longshan Temple(龍山寺) in Tainan’s East District is one of the city’s “seven Buddhist temples and eight Taoist shrines”. It was built from coral stones in 1715, during the reign of the Qing Dynasty Kangxi Emperor outside the city walls at the East Gate. The original temple was rebuilt in 1778 and was demolished when road widening was carried out in the Japanese Colonial Time. The temple has been rebuilt several times. The three-story building seen today was rebuilt on the original site. It contains a large number of cultural relics, including Qing Dynasty plaques.

Guan Di Temple is an extremely well-known temple that was rebuilt as a large temple in 1817 after worshippers believed Tai Zi Tai Bao Wang(太子太保王) had indicated that they should do this; however, a temple has existed on the site during the reign of the Yongli Emperor in the Ming Dynasty dating back to the mid-1600s, giving it a very long history.