Beigang Chaotian Temple

Chaotian Temple was founded in 1694 when a monk brought a Mazu image across from Fujian, and it grew into one of the most important centres of the sea goddess's worship in Taiwan, with hundreds of temples across the island treating it as their parent. The buildings are dense with carving, cut-and-paste ceramic figures on the roofs and swallowtail ridges. Around the lunar third month the pilgrimage season fills the town with processions, palanquins and firecrackers.

What to look for

• The carved halls - stone and wood carving through several linked courtyards.
• The roof figures - cut-and-paste ceramic scenes along swallowtail ridges.
• The Mazu image - the founding figure the whole network of temples relates to.
• The pilgrimage - processions and palanquins filling the town in the spring season.

When to go

Year round; the temple is open long hours daily. The lunar third month brings the pilgrimage and the town is packed and extremely loud. Ordinary days are calm.

What to expect

During pilgrimage season firecrackers are set off continuously at close range and the noise is genuinely punishing; ear protection is not excessive. The temple is a place of worship and photography of rituals needs care. Parking in Beigang is difficult.

Nearby

Chiayi is east, and the Yunlin coast is west.

Key facts